4 Aug 2010: SCHWEIZER 269C — City of Jacksonville Mosquito Control

4 Aug 2010: SCHWEIZER 269C — City of Jacksonville Mosquito Control

No fatalities • Baldwin, FL, United States

Probable cause

A loss of tail rotor effectiveness during a hover.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

According to the pilot, during a mosquito breeding inspection flight, he entered a hover about 2 feet above a field of tall vegetation, and "within 10-15 seconds the nose of the aircraft began to yaw to the right." The pilot corrected with full left anti-torque pedal and attempted to "enter into translational lift" as the helicopter continued to rotate. The right skid contacted the ground, and the helicopter rolled onto its side, sustaining substantial damage to the main rotor blades, fuselage, and skids. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions of the helicopter prior to the accident. He recommended that, "inspection during a cooler part of the day or with presence of wind, or inspecting while moving forward could have prevented the accident." About the time of the accident, an airport weather station about 6 miles southeast of the accident site reported winds variable at 5 knots and temperature 31 degrees C.

Contributing factors

  • cause Capability exceeded
  • Effect on equipment
  • Effect on equipment

Conditions

Weather
VMC, wind 000/05kt, vis 10sm

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