On 5 Jul 2012, an OMLIN ROBERT G EXEC 162F ROTORWAY operated by OMLIN ROBERT G was involved in an aviation accident near Quincy, WA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s failure to ensure that a flag attached to the landing skid was properly secured, which resulted in its in-flight separation and contact with the tail rotor. This summary draws on records from NTSB.
A pilot reported that an American flag attached to a helicopter's landing skids detached and impacted the tail rotor, leading to a separation of the tail boom and tail rotor assembly before an autorotation landing.
Incident Overview
A pilot reported that prior to departure, he attached a three-foot by four-foot American flag to the landing skids of the helicopter. The takeoff was uneventful, and the pilot climbed to an altitude of about 200 feet above ground level.
Sequence of Events
Shortly after reaching altitude, the flag disconnected from the skids and impacted the tail rotor. In response, the pilot initiated an autorotation to a nearby field. Following the incident, an examination by the pilot revealed that approximately half of the tail boom and the tail rotor assembly had separated from the helicopter.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that prior to the flag separating, no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures existed with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.