What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot was hovering helicopter in a left to right crosswind. The pilot stated that he did not obtain a weather brief that day.
He experienced tail rotor vortex ring state in the crosswind.
(Loss of tail rotor effectiveness)
The helicopter continued in a right turn until the right skid impacted the ground.
The helicopter came to rest partially rolling on its right side, damage included right skid, right side of cab, right engine cowling.
The pilot was not injured.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT WAS HOVERING HELICOPTER IN A LEFT TO RIGHT CROSSWIND. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT OBTAIN A WEATHER BRIEF THAT DAY.
HE EXPERIENCED TAIL ROTOR VORTEX RING STATE IN THE CROSSWIND.
(LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS)
THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED IN A RIGHT TURN UNTIL THE RIGHT SKID IMPACTED THE GROUND.
THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST PARTIALLY ROLLING ON ITS RIGHT SIDE, DAMAGE INCLUDED RIGHT SKID, RIGHT SIDE OF CAB, RIGHT ENGINE COWLING.
THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N51789 · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.