N162BC

On December 24, 1993, at 0130 Pacific standard time, a Bell 206B helicopter, N162BC, sustained tailboom damage during repositioning on a private helipad in Las Vegas, Nevada. The pilot reported that after landing on a wheeled dolly he decided to move the helicopter closer to the center of the dolly. The pilot said that he moved the collective to pick the helicopter up and it "fell backwards off the dolly," bending the tailboom, and damaging the tail rotor. The helicopter was operated by Las Vegas Helicopters, Inc., and was concluding a 14 CFR Part 91 positioning flight at the time. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter incurred substantial damage; however, the certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated at the private helipad at 0055 on the day of the mishap as a local area air taxi flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 135 of the Federal Aviation Regulations.