LAX01LA120

The private pilot lost control of the single-engine helicopter after taking off from a field behind his house and it landed hard, then rolled over after he reduced power and lowered the collective. The pilot reported the helicopter was approximately 50-70 feet in the air when the helicopter violently rotated to the left approximately 90 degrees then started to spin to the right 180 degrees. The pilot added there was no normal response to control inputs. The pilot reduced power and lowered the collective. The helicopter impacted the ground tail first, and spun around to the left before coming to rest on its left side. Inspection of the antitorque control system revealed no preimpact anomalies.

On March 18, 2001, at 1345 Pacific standard time, an Enstrom F-28C single-engine helicopter, N637H, was destroyed after impacting terrain following a loss of control during takeoff from a field near Hollister, California. The private pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The helicopter was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of CFR 14 Part 91 as a personal flight when the accident occurred. The local flight was originating from Hollister at the time of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who responded to the accident site, the pilot reported he departed from the field behind his home and was approximately 50-70 feet in the air when the helicopter violently rotated to the left approximately 90 degrees then started to spin to the right 180 degrees. The pilot added there was no normal response to control inputs. The pilot reduced power and lowered the collective. The helicopter impacted the ground tail first, and spun around to the left before coming to rest on its left side.

The pilot and passenger exited the helicopter through the left side door, which had been bent open during the impact sequence. Shortly after the pilot and passenger exited the helicopter, it caught fire and was destroyed, with the exception of the tail boom.

According to the pilot, the helicopter was fully refueled prior to taking off. According to the FAA inspector, no preimpact anomalies were noted with the antitorque control system. The tail boom was found separated from the helicopter and the tail rotor drive shaft was torn from the gearbox. There were grounds scars found that dimensionally corresponded to the tail rotor blades. Both tail rotor blades had paint rubbed off of the leading edges and were deformed aft.