What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Lost tail rotor effect while observing a herd of elk at 8500FT. Autorotated to ground impact. (.4) the helicopter was under contract by the new Mexico game and fish department for the purpose of elk herd evaluation. The right front seat passenger said that they were flying northbound, approximately 180 to 200 feet above the ground, in an attempt to split a heard of elk, for counting purposes. He said that the helicopter was traveling at less than 10 knots, the pilot initiated a turn, and within 3 to 5 seconds, they rotated to the ground. The pilot stated that he thought they were traveling north at approximately 100 feet AGL and approximately 30 knots when he initiated the right turn. He further stated that 'once the turn got started, I couldn't stop it, even with full left pedal.' The pilot reported that he believed the wind was from the west at approximately 5 to 10 knots (the density altitude was calculated to be 9,043 feet). He said that when the accident happened, 'I heard nothing unusual nor felt anything.' According to FAA ac 90-95, unanticipated right yaw can be brought about by low airspeeds, high power regimes, left crosswinds or tailwinds, and right turning maneuvers. (-23) on December 18, 1997, approximately 1625 MST, a Bell 206B helicopter, N124DA, was substantially damaged during impact with the ground following what the pilot reported as "loss of tail rotor effectiveness" near Reserve, n.m. the commercial pilot and 1 passenger received minor injuries; a second passenger was seriously injured.
As the FAA filed it
LOST TAIL ROTOR EFFECT WHILE OBSERVING A HERD OF ELK AT 8500FT. AUTOROTATED TO GROUND IMPACT. (.4) THE HELICOPTER WAS UNDER CONTRACT BY THE NEW MEXICO GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELK HERD EVALUATION. THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SAID THAT THEY WERE FLYING NORTHBOUND, APPROXIMATELY 180 TO 200 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, IN AN ATTEMPT TO SPLIT A HEARD OF ELK, FOR COUNTING PURPOSES. HE SAID THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS TRAVELING AT LESS THAN 10 KNOTS, THE PILOT INITIATED A TURN, AND WITHIN 3 TO 5 SECONDS, THEY ROTATED TO THE GROUND. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE THOUGHT THEY WERE TRAVELING NORTH AT APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET AGL AND APPROXIMATELY 30 KNOTS WHEN HE INITIATED THE RIGHT TURN. HE FURTHER STATED THAT 'ONCE THE TURN GOT STARTED, I COULDN'T STOP IT, EVEN WITH FULL LEFT PEDAL.' THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE BELIEVED THE WIND WAS FROM THE WEST AT APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 10 KNOTS (THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS CALCULATED TO BE 9,043 FEET). HE SAID THAT WHEN THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED, 'I HEARD NOTHING UNUSUAL NOR FELT ANYTHING.' ACCORDING TO FAA AC 90-95, UNANTICIPATED RIGHT YAW CAN BE BROUGHT ABOUT BY LOW AIRSPEEDS, HIGH POWER REGIMES, LEFT CROSSWINDS OR TAILWINDS, AND RIGHT TURNING MANEUVERS. (-23) ON DECEMBER 18, 1997, APPROXIMATELY 1625 MST, A BELL 206B HELICOPTER, N124DA, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING IMPACT WITH THE GROUND FOLLOWING WHAT THE PILOT REPORTED AS "LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS" NEAR RESERVE, N.M. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND 1 PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES; A SECOND PASSENGER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.