What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Lifted off intending to execute left 180 degree turn. At liftoff helicopter began turning right, pilot reported he was unable to stop turn with left pedal. He reduced collective, helicopter settled onto grass runway with slight rotational or sideways motion, toppled to right, main rotor contacted ground. Through bolt in tail rotor articulation assembly fork found sheared. Bolt showed signs of pre-failure stress (over-torquing). Parts submitted to NTSB for analysis. (.19) on July 20, 2002, at 1830 central daylight time, a Schweizer 269C-1, N897TH, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during takeoff from a private grass airstrip near Askov, Minnesota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot was uninjured. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) LIFTED OFF INTENDING TO EXECUTE LEFT 180 DEGREE TURN. AT LIFTOFF HELICOPTER BEGAN TURNING RIGHT, PILOT REPORTED HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP TURN WITH LEFT PEDAL. HE REDUCED COLLECTIVE, HELICOPTER SETTLED ONTO GRASS RUNWAY WITH SLIGHT ROTATIONAL OR SIDEWAYS MOTION, TOPPLED TO RIGHT, MAIN ROTOR CONTACTED GROUND. THROUGH BOLT IN TAIL ROTOR ARTICULATION ASSEMBLY FORK FOUND SHEARED. BOLT SHOWED SIGNS OF PRE-FAILURE STRESS (OVER-TORQUING). PARTS SUBMITTED TO NTSB FOR ANALYSIS. (.19) ON JULY 20, 2002, AT 1830 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A SCHWEIZER 269C-1, N897TH, PILOTED BY A PRIVATE PILOT, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING TAKEOFF FROM A PRIVATE GRASS AIRSTRIP NEAR ASKOV, MINNESOTA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE 14 CFR PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS NOT OPERATING ON A FLIGHT PLAN. THE PILOT WAS UNINJURED. THE LOCAL FLIGHT WAS ORIGINATING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.