20020706021519A

(.19) On July 6, 2002, at 0945 eastern standard time (EST), Bell 206B, N60EA, piloted by a commercial pilot sustained substantial damage during an emergency landing after liftoff from a residential driveway in three rivers, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR part 91 without a flight plan. The flight originated at 0945 EST with the intended destination of goshen airport, goshen, Indiana. According to the pilot's written statement, "the takeoff was normal and upon reaching an altitude of about 75' to clear the trees and power lines I started to accelerate to forward flight. At the time the aircraft began to accelerate forward, the aircraft began to spin to the right and the tail rotor suddenly lost all effectiveness." The pilot reported that he " ... Identified this as a loss of tail rotor and began to effect an emergency landing. Power lines were below me and the aircraft had already spun 3 and a half complete revolutions. I managed to maneuver the aircraft to an open pasture area and lowered the collective bringing the aircraft down to the ground." He stated that when theaircraft reached the ground the " ... Touchdown was level with no forward motion but was still turning slightly." The pilot reported, " ... The tails of the skid gear broke off and the aircraft settled down and the tail rotor hit the ground." (-23) after take-off, pilot stated a loss of tail rotor. The helicopter spun 3-5 times around before executing a hard landing in a cow pasture. No injuries to either pilot nor single passenger.