What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.4)The pilot took off into the wind to conduct a high orbit, and as the pilot 'gently and smoothly' started a right turn, an uncommanded right yaw, along with a 'high engine whine sound,' was experienced. At that time the pilot estimated the wind was at his 10 o'clock position. The pilot immediately applied left pedal to compensate for the right yaw, but it did not arrest the rotation. The collective was then lowered, and in an attempt to fly out of the ensuing condition, the helicopter was turned into the direction of rotation. After the helicopter made three complete 360-degree turns to the right, the PIC closed the throttle to idle, and performed an autorotation to a dry lakebed. FAA advisory circular 90-95 stated that 'any maneuver which requires the pilot to operate in a high-power, low airspeed environment with a left crosswind or tailwind creates an environment where unanticipated right yaw may occur.' The ac also advised of greater susceptibility for lte in right turns and the phenomena may occur in varying degrees in all single main rotor helicopters at airspeeds less than 30 knots. (-23)n.j. state police helicopter was involved in search for escaped prison er, when it experienced loss of tail rotor authority and impacted with ground.
As the FAA filed it
(.4)THE PILOT TOOK OFF INTO THE WIND TO CONDUCT A HIGH ORBIT, AND AS THE PILOT 'GENTLY AND SMOOTHLY' STARTED A RIGHT TURN, AN UNCOMMANDED RIGHT YAW, ALONG WITH A 'HIGH ENGINE WHINE SOUND,' WAS EXPERIENCED. AT THAT TIME THE PILOT ESTIMATED THE WIND WAS AT HIS 10 O'CLOCK POSITION. THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY APPLIED LEFT PEDAL TO COMPENSATE FOR THE RIGHT YAW, BUT IT DID NOT ARREST THE ROTATION. THE COLLECTIVE WAS THEN LOWERED, AND IN AN ATTEMPT TO FLY OUT OF THE ENSUING CONDITION, THE HELICOPTER WAS TURNED INTO THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION. AFTER THE HELICOPTER MADE THREE COMPLETE 360-DEGREE TURNS TO THE RIGHT, THE PIC CLOSED THE THROTTLE TO IDLE, AND PERFORMED AN AUTOROTATION TO A DRY LAKEBED. FAA ADVISORY CIRCULAR 90-95 STATED THAT 'ANY MANEUVER WHICH REQUIRES THE PILOT TO OPERATE IN A HIGH-POWER, LOW AIRSPEED ENVIRONMENT WITH A LEFT CROSSWIND OR TAILWIND CREATES AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE UNANTICIPATED RIGHT YAW MAY OCCUR.' THE AC ALSO ADVISED OF GREATER SUSCEPTIBILITY FOR LTE IN RIGHT TURNS AND THE PHENOMENA MAY OCCUR IN VARYING DEGREES IN ALL SINGLE MAIN ROTOR HELICOPTERS AT AIRSPEEDS LESS THAN 30 KNOTS. (-23)N.J. STATE POLICE HELICOPTER WAS INVOLVED IN SEARCH FOR ESCAPED PRISON ER, WHEN IT EXPERIENCED LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR AUTHORITY AND IMPACTED WITH GROUND.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.