Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's improper use of the flight controls while at a hover that resulted in the tail colliding with the ground, a subsequent hard landing, and collapse of the skids.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
The pilot stated he was hovering the helicopter from the left front seat using the collective pitch from the right front seat and the cyclic control from the left front seat. The tail of the helicopter collided with the ground and the pilot applied improper flight control inputs. The helicopter landed hard on the ground and collapsed the skids causing structural damage to the fuselage. The commercial pilot and pilot rated passenger were not injured. The flight originated from Eagles Landing Heliport, Sevierville, Tennessee, on April 22, 2007 at 1505.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ATL07CA076