What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On June 14, 2024 an expiermental helicopter flew from , Alva, Florida to 87FL. After one pass of the airport the helicopter entered what was described as an loss of tail rotor effectiveness(lte) at approx. 100FT. Upon the emergency recovery of the lte event the helicopter set down on a canal berm and rolled into the canal near airport 87FL. The helocopter's main rotor blades, tail rotor blades, tail boom, and windshield were damaged substainaly. No injuries, 2 pilots on board exited the helicopter safely. Upon review of the bolt assembly in the tail boom on July 2 ,2024. The right side of the tail rotor drive belt jam nut had become loose more than 3 inches possibly from vibrations in the tail boom. This allowed the self-locking nylon nut to loosen approximately 3-4 full turns. This assembly in experimental helicopter rotorway exec 162F keeps tension on the pulley belt system that runs the tail rotor. Leading to an loss of tail rotor effectiveness.
As the FAA filed it
ON JUNE 14, 2024 AN EXPIERMENTAL HELICOPTER FLEW FROM , ALVA, FLORIDA TO 87FL. AFTER ONE PASS OF THE AIRPORT THE HELICOPTER ENTERED WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS AN LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS(LTE) AT APPROX. 100FT. UPON THE EMERGENCY RECOVERY OF THE LTE EVENT THE HELICOPTER SET DOWN ON A CANAL BERM AND ROLLED INTO THE CANAL NEAR AIRPORT 87FL. THE HELOCOPTER'S MAIN ROTOR BLADES, TAIL ROTOR BLADES, TAIL BOOM, AND WINDSHIELD WERE DAMAGED SUBSTAINALY. NO INJURIES, 2 PILOTS ON BOARD EXITED THE HELICOPTER SAFELY. UPON REVIEW OF THE BOLT ASSEMBLY IN THE TAIL BOOM ON JULY 2 ,2024. THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE BELT JAM NUT HAD BECOME LOOSE MORE THAN 3 INCHES POSSIBLY FROM VIBRATIONS IN THE TAIL BOOM. THIS ALLOWED THE SELF-LOCKING NYLON NUT TO LOOSEN APPROXIMATELY 3-4 FULL TURNS. THIS ASSEMBLY IN EXPERIMENTAL HELICOPTER ROTORWAY EXEC 162F KEEPS TENSION ON THE PULLEY BELT SYSTEM THAT RUNS THE TAIL ROTOR. LEADING TO AN LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.