Accident Overview
On November 8, 2017, at about 1140 central standard time, a Bell 206L-3 helicopter, registration N275AE, operated by Air Evac EMS Inc, was substantially damaged during a positioning flight in Union City, Tennessee. The pilot, flight nurse, and flight paramedic sustained minor injuries.
Sequence of Events
The helicopter departed for a public relations event at the Obion County Emergency Communications District 911 Center. A company employee at the landing zone (LZ) communicated with the crew via a portable radio. After being advised that the LZ was secure, the helicopter launched at 1124. The employee observed the helicopter perform high and low reconnaissance using left-hand turns and then turn for final approach to the church parking lot adjacent to the LZ. He advised the pilot that the helicopter was clear of wires but received no response.
The helicopter descended onto a steep grassy slope, catching the front third of the skid on the top of the slope. As weight was placed on the skids, the tail boom descended rapidly, and the tail stinger embedded into soft mud near an asphalt driveway. The company employee thought he observed the tail rotor strike the mud. Subsequently, the engine sound changed, and the tail boom rose to an estimated 60° angle. A loud bang was heard, and the airframe slammed back down onto the slope. The helicopter then began shaking violently from left to right, and the main rotor separated from the mast.
The pilot reported that he was unfamiliar with the LZ. During the approach, he performed a low reconnaissance and determined the best approach to the northwest. On final, he called out trees and wires. The flight paramedic called out clear of trees and wires mid-skid. The pilot decided to land in the parking lot, but as he moved toward it, electrical wires came into view. He aborted and chose to land on grass south of the lot. During landing, the skids touched down, but the tail continued to fall. He increased collective to stabilize, but the helicopter slid backwards. After feeling two thumps, he added forward cyclic and reduced power. The tail rose rapidly, then came back down after aft cyclic. The helicopter shook violently, and he shut off the fuel. The occupants egressed.
Examination Findings
Examination of the accident site showed that the helicopter touched down on level ground with the front skids, while the ground aft of the pilot’s seat sloped downward about 10° to 15°. Ground scars from the skids, lower wire strike assembly, and tail stinger were present. The main rotor had separated from the main rotor shaft just below the rotor head, and the droop stops were damaged. The transmission fairing was crushed and broken, the tail stinger bent upward, and the upper tail fin bent to the right. The tail boom was bent to the right and almost completely separated aft of the cabin. The rear crossover tube for the landing skids was bent and pushed into the right lower fuselage. Both windscreens were broken. After separation, the main rotor struck wires and came to rest across the street on the lawn of the county emergency communications center.