What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
1969 Bell-shelby aero 47G2 helicopter was hovering out of ground effect when it landed hard and sustained substantial damage. (-23) from a hover, the pilot initiated a left climbing turn to a normal takeoff. At 20 to 25 feet and 15 to 20 knots forward progress, a banging noise was heard and the engine surged. The aircraft began to settle, and the pilot retarded the throttle to control the engine RPM. The pilot lowered the collective and leveled the bank of the aircraft. The aircraft continued to yaw left. The pilot was unable to effectively cushion the landing. The engine was still running after the dust settled. There was no fire! Time frame from banging noise to crash was approx two shakes of a cow's tail; it happened fast. Will teardown.
As the FAA filed it
1969 BELL-SHELBY AERO 47G2 HELICOPTER WAS HOVERING OUT OF GROUND EFFECT WHEN IT LANDED HARD AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. (-23) FROM A HOVER, THE PILOT INITIATED A LEFT CLIMBING TURN TO A NORMAL TAKEOFF. AT 20 TO 25 FEET AND 15 TO 20 KNOTS FORWARD PROGRESS, A BANGING NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE ENGINE SURGED. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO SETTLE, AND THE PILOT RETARDED THE THROTTLE TO CONTROL THE ENGINE RPM. THE PILOT LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE AND LEVELED THE BANK OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO YAW LEFT. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO EFFECTIVELY CUSHION THE LANDING. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AFTER THE DUST SETTLED. THERE WAS NO FIRE! TIME FRAME FROM BANGING NOISE TO CRASH WAS APPROX TWO SHAKES OF A COW'S TAIL; IT HAPPENED FAST. WILL TEARDOWN.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.