What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On July 25, 2002, at 1249 CDT, a Bell model 206-L3, N3174Y, registered to and operated by air logistics, l.l.c., air carrier certificate ALGA151C, experienced a loss of drive to the tail rotor assembly during cruise flight. The commercial pilot initiated an autorotational landing to the water where the helicopter rolled inverted upon landing. The commercially rated pilot and his one passenger received minor injuries upon exiting the helicopter. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and company flight follwing was in effect. Investigation revealed #6 tail rotor shaft torsionallly fractured due to an as yet unknown object striking a tail rotor blade.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON JULY 25, 2002, AT 1249 CDT, A BELL MODEL 206-L3, N3174Y, REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY AIR LOGISTICS, L.L.C., AIR CARRIER CERTIFICATE ALGA151C, EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF DRIVE TO THE TAIL ROTOR ASSEMBLY DURING CRUISE FLIGHT. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT INITIATED AN AUTOROTATIONAL LANDING TO THE WATER WHERE THE HELICOPTER ROLLED INVERTED UPON LANDING. THE COMMERCIALLY RATED PILOT AND HIS ONE PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES UPON EXITING THE HELICOPTER. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND COMPANY FLIGHT FOLLWING WAS IN EFFECT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED #6 TAIL ROTOR SHAFT TORSIONALLLY FRACTURED DUE TO AN AS YET UNKNOWN OBJECT STRIKING A TAIL ROTOR BLADE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.