Bell 206A N67AR accident near Barnesville, Pennsylvania

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during the low-speed, low-altitude maneuver which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.

NTSB analysis

The helicopter was scheduled to overfly a driving range at a golf course, then drop golf balls from the helicopter onto the driving range for a charity event. The helicopter flew along a tree line on the east side of the driving range, then performed a 180-degree turn to align with the driving range, about 50 feet above the ground, and with a right quartering tailwind. A witness noted that the flight path of the helicopter was slightly erratic, with slight roll and fore/aft pitch oscillations. The helicopter then began to spin to the right, while climbing, and continuing forward, before it finally impacted the ground facing 180 degrees from its original flight path. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any mechanical malfunction or failure. The pilot did not hold a current medical certificate, and logbooks found in the wreckage indicated that the pilot did not possess a current flight review; also, no annual inspection had been logged for the helicopter in the preceding year.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for NYC08LA287 for the full record.