On March 5, 2007, a Bell 206 B3 (registration N150SP) operated by Dan S. Scott was involved in an aviation accident near Custer, MT. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from parked farm equipment during landing, which resulted in the helicopter's tail rotor striking the object. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A helicopter pilot failed to maintain adequate clearance from parked farm equipment while landing at a cattle feeding lot, resulting in tail rotor damage.
What happened
The pilot was operating a helicopter during a landing maneuver at a cattle feeding lot. The intended landing area was situated near existing farm equipment that had been parked on the ground. As the aircraft descended to touch down, it reached an altitude of less than 10 feet above the designated spot.
During this final phase of flight, the pilot failed to maintain sufficient lateral clearance between the helicopter and the stationary object. Consequently, the tail rotor assembly made contact with the piece of farm equipment. The impact occurred while the aircraft was still in close proximity to the ground, effectively ending the landing attempt due to the collision.
The investigation
The examination focused on the mechanics of the accident sequence. Investigators determined that the primary factor was the failure to keep the tail rotor clear of the obstacle. No other mechanical failures or environmental factors were cited as contributing to the contact event.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from parked farm equipment during landing, which resulted in the helicopter's tail rotor striking the object.
