Primary finding
Probable cause
the pilot not maintaining clearance from the telephone lines during landing. Factors contributing to the accident were the pilot not being able to see the telephone lines, the low altitude, and the dark night.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot said his helicopter was approaching a landing area, located just east of a restaurant, from the south, in night visual meteorological conditions. During the approach, the pilot could not see the lighted flag on top of the restaurant, thus he could not determine the wind direction or velocity for landing. He executed a go around and began maneuvering so that he could approach the landing area from the east. The pilot said that at the "northern most point of the go around, a tail rotor strike was felt." The tail rotor struck telephone lines along the north side of a road. The pilot immediately put the helicopter down hard into a ditch alongside the road, breaking the left skid, crushing the right skid and fuselage upward, bending and twisting the main rotor blades, and bending the tail rotor blades. An examination of the helicopter's systems revealed no anomalies.
Source record
Factual narrative
On November 22, 2002, at 1830 mountain standard time, an Enstrom F-28C helicopter, N552CS, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it made a hard landing in a ditch along a road near Morrison, Colorado. Prior to the hard landing, the helicopter's tail rotor struck telephone lines during a landing attempt. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted without a flight plan under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported minor injuries. The passenger on board reported no injuries. The flight originated at Longmont, Colorado, at 1800. In his written statement, the pilot said he was approaching a landing area, located just east of a restaurant, from the south. The pilot said that during the approach he could not see the lighted flag on top of the restaurant, thus he could not determine the wind direction or velocity for landing. He said he executed a go around and began maneuvering so that he could approach the landing area from the east. The pilot said that at the "northern most point of the go around, a tail rotor strike was felt." The pilot immediately put the helicopter down on a road. An examination of the wreckage showed the left skid broken upward. The right skid was bent upward and the bottom fuselage, aft of the pilot seat, was crushed upward. Both tail rotor blades were bent near mid span. Both main rotor blades were bent and twisted. Control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the helicopter's systems revealed no anomalies.