20020401005029A

(-23) The ip & student were conducting a "transition" training flt. Southeast of stellar airpark (P19). While practicing a short final approach onto a remote desert area the helicopter at approx. 50 ft (AGL) and being flown by the student, began yawing abruptly to the left. The ip took over the controls at that point, applied full rt pedal to no effect. The helicopter made 3-4 360 degree turns to the left as it descended. Prior to ground impact the ip applied full collective to cushion the fall. The helicopter, with hardly no forward speed, impacted the ground hard on the right landing skid, collapsing it, and rolled onto it's r/h side. There was no post-crash fire. The ip received back injuries. The student appeared to be ok. (.19) on April 1, 2002, at 0955 mountain standard time, a rotorway exec 165F helicopter, N21901, collided with the ground following a loss of tail rotor drive while in cruise near Chandler, Arizona. The helicopter was owned and operated by rotorway international, and was on a local area instructional flight. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot/flight instructor and an airline transport pilot student, who was undergoi ng transition training in the make and model helicopter, sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed from stellar airpark, Chandler, about 0900. After the accident, the flight instructor told his company that they lost the tail rotor drive and then collided with the ground and rolled over while attempting a forced landing. The helicopter was examined on scene by a federal aviation administration airworthiness inspector. He reported that the drive belts were burned and frayed.