What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) At 400 feet MSL, 4 miles sseof Evadale, Texas, returning to landing zone with 100' external long line and empty basket, pilot felt a loug "bang", noted immediate right yaw and loss of tail rotor authority. Immediately jettisoned line and basket, continued right turn to easterly heading and auto-rotated into marshy clear-cut field with scrub pine trees about 4-5 feet tall. Helicopter remained upright heading in an easterly direction.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) AT 400 FEET MSL, 4 MILES SSEOF EVADALE, TEXAS, RETURNING TO LANDING ZONE WITH 100' EXTERNAL LONG LINE AND EMPTY BASKET, PILOT FELT A LOUG "BANG", NOTED IMMEDIATE RIGHT YAW AND LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR AUTHORITY. IMMEDIATELY JETTISONED LINE AND BASKET, CONTINUED RIGHT TURN TO EASTERLY HEADING AND AUTO-ROTATED INTO MARSHY CLEAR-CUT FIELD WITH SCRUB PINE TREES ABOUT 4-5 FEET TALL. HELICOPTER REMAINED UPRIGHT HEADING IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION.
Other reports on N499BH · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.