What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On may 22,2012, about 1430 pacific daylight time, a Eurocopter AS-350 B2, N105TV, substained minor damage following an in-flight seperation of a tail rotor pitch change link bolt while maneuvering near the Seattle tacoma international airport (sea) , Seattle, Washington. The pilot reported that he had just entered a slow orbit, about 1200 feet above the ground, when the helicopter experienced what he described as a severe vibration. The vibration was continuous and so severe, that the pilot diverted to bfi for landing. The pilot reported that just before landing, with full right pedal inputs, the helicopter entered a slow turn to the left, which continued till touchdown.
As the FAA filed it
ON MAY 22,2012, ABOUT 1430 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A EUROCOPTER AS-350 B2, N105TV, SUBSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE FOLLOWING AN IN-FLIGHT SEPERATION OF A TAIL ROTOR PITCH CHANGE LINK BOLT WHILE MANEUVERING NEAR THE SEATTLE TACOMA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (SEA) , SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD JUST ENTERED A SLOW ORBIT, ABOUT 1200 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, WHEN THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS A SEVERE VIBRATION. THE VIBRATION WAS CONTINUOUS AND SO SEVERE, THAT THE PILOT DIVERTED TO BFI FOR LANDING. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT JUST BEFORE LANDING, WITH FULL RIGHT PEDAL INPUTS, THE HELICOPTER ENTERED A SLOW TURN TO THE LEFT, WHICH CONTINUED TILL TOUCHDOWN.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.