Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from tall brush during a low-hover pedal turn. A factor was the six foot-tall brush located adjacent to the area where the pilot was operating.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
After completing two local deer herding flights, the pilot landed the helicopter and waited about five minutes for the ground crew to be ready for him to start another herding flight. At the beginning of the third flight, he lifted off into a hover, and then performed a pedal-turn into the wind prior to entering translational lift. During the turn, the snow pad on one of the helicopter's skids caught in some tall brush, resulting in a dynamic rollover into the terrain. According to the pilot, there was no problem with the helicopter's flight controls, but he simply failed to see that there was tall brush ( approximately six feet high) behind and to the right of the aircraft.
Source record
Factual narrative
On January 7, 2007, approximately 1145 mountain standard time, a Bell 206B helicopter, N1882, impacted the terrain while in a low hover about 10 miles northeast of Boise, Idaho. The airline transport pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the aircraft, which is operated by Idaho Helicopters, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 local deer herding flight, was being conducted in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. According to the pilot, after completing two local deer herding flights, he landed the helicopter and waited about five minutes for the ground crew to be ready for him to start another herding flight. At the beginning of the third flight, he lifted off into a hover, and then performed a pedal-turn into the wind prior to entering translational lift. During the turn, the snow pad on one of the helicopter’s skids caught in some tall brush, resulting in a dynamic rollover into the terrain. According to the pilot, there was no problem with the helicopter’s flight controls, but he simply failed to see that there was tall brush ( approximately six feet high) behind and to the right of the aircraft.