On August 23, 2004, a Bell 206B3 (registration N2751U) was involved in an aviation accident near Atlantic City, WY. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's inability to maintain aircraft control, improper in-flight planning and decision making, and failure to compensate for wind conditions, resulting in collision with terrain. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A helicopter conducting a filming operation encountered sudden wind shear and a tailwind while maneuvering near a hill, lost control, and impacted terrain, resulting in substantial damage.
Flight Details
The pilot reported that he was engaged in a filming operation. He had completed a pass at high groundspeed and was reducing speed to approximately 20 mph into the wind.
Accident Sequence
At about 75 feet above ground level and an airspeed of approximately 60 knots, the pilot continued to maneuver the helicopter around the leeward side of a small hill. During this maneuver, the helicopter encountered a sudden wind shear and a tailwind of 15 to 20 knots. The pilot stated that the helicopter lost all response to control inputs, and he was unable to maintain altitude. The helicopter descended, struck the terrain, and rolled over.
Damage
The impact crushed the forward fuselage, separated the main rotor assembly, and buckled the tail boom.