What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot statement: on November 14, 2001 at approximately 11:10 am, while slinging (FAR part 133) with a 30' line, I heard or felt something, like a thunk, and the helicopter started spinning to the right. I pushed full left pedal and got no response, so I rolled the throttle to idle and auto rotated from about 50' above ground. The left side skid gear was bent when it bumped against a small tree stump on touchdown. The aft short shaft of the tail rotor drive shaft was broken, which I believe caused the loss of directional control. I could not see any other visible damage to the aircraft.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT STATEMENT: ON NOVEMBER 14, 2001 AT APPROXIMATELY 11:10 AM, WHILE SLINGING (FAR PART 133) WITH A 30' LINE, I HEARD OR FELT SOMETHING, LIKE A THUNK, AND THE HELICOPTER STARTED SPINNING TO THE RIGHT. I PUSHED FULL LEFT PEDAL AND GOT NO RESPONSE, SO I ROLLED THE THROTTLE TO IDLE AND AUTO ROTATED FROM ABOUT 50' ABOVE GROUND. THE LEFT SIDE SKID GEAR WAS BENT WHEN IT BUMPED AGAINST A SMALL TREE STUMP ON TOUCHDOWN. THE AFT SHORT SHAFT OF THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT WAS BROKEN, WHICH I BELIEVE CAUSED THE LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. I COULD NOT SEE ANY OTHER VISIBLE DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT.
Other reports on N8169J · 3
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.