N210PH

On September 20, 1997, at 1615 central daylight time, a Bell 206L-3 helicopter, N210PH, owned and operated by Petroleum Helicopters. Inc, of Lafayette, Louisiana, under Title 14 CFR Part 91, collided with terrain following a loss of control during cruise flight near Houma, Louisiana. The commercial pilot received minor injuries and the helicopter sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the repositioning flight that departed Fort Jackson, Louisiana, at 1547, under a company VFR flight plan.

An interview, conducted by the investigator-in-charge, revealed that the helicopter was in cruise flight at 800 feet MSL about 14 miles from Houma when the pilot heard a loud bang and the helicopter started "shaking violently." Cyclic inputs did not correct the attitude of the aircraft. The pilot, with seat belt and shoulder harness secured, was thrown about the cockpit as the helicopter pitched down and to the left. The pilot lowered the collective full down and rolled the throttle to the idle position. The helicopter entered a "near level attitude and a slight left bank." At about 15 feet AGL, the pilot applied full "aft cyclic and pulled pitch to try to cushion the landing." The helicopter touched the ground in a slight left sideways movement and bounced once before coming to rest.

An examination of the helicopter revealed that a bird struck and sheared the cyclic (yellow) push pull tube. The aft portion of the tailboom was bent and the right horizontal stabilizer winglet was separated from the helicopter.