What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On February 14, 2013, the pilot and two passengers departed from carnudas, Texas in a Bell helicopter, army model OH58A, on a wildlife survey flight for Texas parks and wildlife department.
Approximately 15 minutes into the initial transect (141) for the afternoon, on a heading of 45 degrees, at approximately 15:45 CST, the helicopter was in forward flight 100FT AGL and 30 knot ground speed and 75% torque, the pilot increased collective pitch in order to climb and cross an intersecting ridge line. The helicopter began to yaw to the right and the pilot was unable to correct the yaw with left tail rotor pedal. The helicopter rotated 4 to 5 times clockwise and impacted, landing gear first on the ridge coming to rest on its left side, facing opposite to the direction of flight. The pilot was uninjured. The two passengers sustained minor injuries. There was substantial damage to the helicopter landing gear, main and tail rotor systems, upper cabin structure and tail boom assembly.
As the FAA filed it
ON FEBRUARY 14, 2013, THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS DEPARTED FROM CARNUDAS, TEXAS IN A BELL HELICOPTER, ARMY MODEL OH58A, ON A WILDLIFE SURVEY FLIGHT FOR TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT.
APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES INTO THE INITIAL TRANSECT (141) FOR THE AFTERNOON, ON A HEADING OF 45 DEGREES, AT APPROXIMATELY 15:45 CST, THE HELICOPTER WAS IN FORWARD FLIGHT 100FT AGL AND 30 KNOT GROUND SPEED AND 75% TORQUE, THE PILOT INCREASED COLLECTIVE PITCH IN ORDER TO CLIMB AND CROSS AN INTERSECTING RIDGE LINE. THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO YAW TO THE RIGHT AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE YAW WITH LEFT TAIL ROTOR PEDAL. THE HELICOPTER ROTATED 4 TO 5 TIMES CLOCKWISE AND IMPACTED, LANDING GEAR FIRST ON THE RIDGE COMING TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE, FACING OPPOSITE TO THE DIRECTION OF FLIGHT. THE PILOT WAS UNINJURED. THE TWO PASSENGERS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTER LANDING GEAR, MAIN AND TAIL ROTOR SYSTEMS, UPPER CABIN STRUCTURE AND TAIL BOOM ASSEMBLY.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.