On April 6, 2001, a Bell 222UT (registration N222LF) operated by Corporate Jets, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Alcova, WY. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's failure to maintain tail rotor clearance during a right pedal turn while hovering. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 5 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
An air medical helicopter was landing on a paved turn-out adjacent to a highway. While hovering, the pilot performed a right pedal turn to reorient the aircraft, and the tail rotor struck a 55-gallon trash barrel, causing the helicopter to yaw right. The pilot reduced throttles and landed.
Incident Overview
An air medical helicopter was conducting a landing on a paved traffic turn-out located immediately next to a state highway. The pilot was hovering the aircraft just above the ground when he decided to reorient the helicopter to facilitate patient loading. During the subsequent right pedal turn, the tail rotor struck a 55-gallon trash barrel.
Sequence of Events
Following the impact, the helicopter began to yaw to the right. In response, the pilot brought the throttles to flight idle and completed the landing. No further information regarding injuries or damage was provided.
Investigation
The investigation determined that the tail rotor contacted the trash barrel during the turning maneuver. No probable cause was stated in the available source.