Overview
On June 1, 2008, at 1330 eastern daylight time, a Bell 47D1 helicopter, N74898, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a field near Carrollton, Ohio. The commercial helicopter pilot was not injured. The helicopter was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Flight Details
The flight departed the Carrollton County-Tolson Airport (TSO) at 1315 en route to Wheeling, West Virginia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that the helicopter had flown about 8 miles when the cyclic began to shake violently.
Pilot Actions
Upon experiencing the violent shaking, the pilot attempted to land but could not get the helicopter to hover. He then attempted a run-on landing. During the landing, the helicopter's skid caught some high grass or rough terrain, causing the helicopter to roll onto its side. The pilot stated that the helicopter was operating normally prior to the accident.
Post-Accident Inspection
A helicopter mechanic inspected the aircraft and found no preexisting anomalies. A broken hydraulic hose was sent to the National Transportation Safety Board's Investigator-In-Charge (IIC) for examination. The inspection of the hose revealed no pre-impact anomaly.