PLT OF AN ENSTROM F28A LOST CTL OF THE YAW CTL DURING HOVERING PRACTICE RESULTING IN AN UNCTLED LNDG CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CARRIAGE STRUT; TAIL ROTOR GUARD AND BLADES AND PLASTIC WINDOWS.

Narrative

I WAS IN A HOVER APPROX 3 FT ABOVE GND. I WS TURNING HELI TO R USING R ANTI-TORQUE PEDAL; WHEN SUDDENLY HELI STARTED TO SPIN. I TRIED TO STOP ROTATION USING L PEDDLE -- UNSUCCESSFUL. I TRIED CHOPPING PWR AND DO HOVERING AUTO -- UNSUCCESSFUL. I THEN SLAMMED TO GND. UPON IMPACT; I DISENGAGED MAIN ROTOR BLADES CLUTCH AND STARTED SHUTDOWN PROCS. THE FRONT R STRUT GAVE WAY; CAUSING THE HELI TO WOBBLE SEVERELY; AND THEN THE R REAR STRUT GAVE WAY; CAUSING THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES TO CONTACT ASPHALT SURFACE. AFTER ABOUT 20 SECONDS; ALL CAME TO A HALT. DAMAGES: MAIN ROTOR BLADES; ALL PLASTIC WINDOWS; TAIL ROTOR GUARD AND BLADES. AFTER CLOSE EXAM OF HELI; I FOUND THE L ANTI-TORQUE PEDAL BROKEN DUE TO RUST. I AM UNCERTAIN IF THE PEDAL BROKE WHILE I WAS IN THE HOVER OR AFTER I MADE GND CONTACT. ALL I DO KNOW; I WAS IN A VERY GENTLE TURN TO THE R AND AS I PROCEEDED TO APPLY L PEDAL; THE SHIP CONTINUED ITS TURNING UNTIL I SAT IT ON THE GND. I DO KNOW THAT LOW RPM WITH THE F28A WILL SEND YOU SPINNING THE SAME WAY. OF COURSE; ENSTROM HAS AN UPGRADE SYS FOR THEIR SCREWED UP TAIL ROTOR SYS ON THE 'A' MODEL FOR $5000+.