What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) While herding a buffalo, pilot lost control during a downwind turn at low speed and altitude. Pilot was unable to control the heli as it was spinning. The heli struck the ground traveling sideways with the left skid hitting first and departing the a/c. the heli came to rest about 30 feet from the left skid on the left side of the fuselage. The tail rotor drive shaft showed signs of rotation when it was broken off. One broken off trail rotor blade was found about 50 feet from the main wreckage. Pitch change and control linkage seemed normal after further inspection. It appears that Mr. Gulker experienced an unanticipated right yaw as explained in FAA advisory circular 90-95 and subsequently lost control.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) WHILE HERDING A BUFFALO, PILOT LOST CONTROL DURING A DOWNWIND TURN AT LOW SPEED AND ALTITUDE. PILOT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE HELI AS IT WAS SPINNING. THE HELI STRUCK THE GROUND TRAVELING SIDEWAYS WITH THE LEFT SKID HITTING FIRST AND DEPARTING THE A/C. THE HELI CAME TO REST ABOUT 30 FEET FROM THE LEFT SKID ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE. THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT SHOWED SIGNS OF ROTATION WHEN IT WAS BROKEN OFF. ONE BROKEN OFF TRAIL ROTOR BLADE WAS FOUND ABOUT 50 FEET FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. PITCH CHANGE AND CONTROL LINKAGE SEEMED NORMAL AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION. IT APPEARS THAT MR. GULKER EXPERIENCED AN UNANTICIPATED RIGHT YAW AS EXPLAINED IN FAA ADVISORY CIRCULAR 90-95 AND SUBSEQUENTLY LOST CONTROL.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.