What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Helicopter experienced a power failure and skids struck a fence. (-23) pilot states that in cruise flight, approx. altitude 1500', he experienced loss of tail rotor. The passenger on board was a certificated aircraft mechanic. He states he observed the tail rotor to stop rotation. The pilot initiated autorotation and collided with a fence just prior to the selected emergency landing area. On site inspection of the aircraft by inspector viterna of this office revealed the tail rotor gearbox, the tail rotor and associated components to be intact. Due to damage, Mr. Viterna could not determine condition of drive shaft components.
As the FAA filed it
HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A POWER FAILURE AND SKIDS STRUCK A FENCE. (-23) PILOT STATES THAT IN CRUISE FLIGHT, APPROX. ALTITUDE 1500', HE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR. THE PASSENGER ON BOARD WAS A CERTIFICATED AIRCRAFT MECHANIC. HE STATES HE OBSERVED THE TAIL ROTOR TO STOP ROTATION. THE PILOT INITIATED AUTOROTATION AND COLLIDED WITH A FENCE JUST PRIOR TO THE SELECTED EMERGENCY LANDING AREA. ON SITE INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY INSPECTOR VITERNA OF THIS OFFICE REVEALED THE TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX, THE TAIL ROTOR AND ASSOCIATED COMPONENTS TO BE INTACT. DUE TO DAMAGE, MR. VITERNA COULD NOT DETERMINE CONDITION OF DRIVE SHAFT COMPONENTS.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.