NTSB Factual Report

On February 21, 2004, at 1312 eastern standard time, a Bell 206, N35Q, registered to Fayette Air Services LLC, operated by a private owner as a 14 CFR Part 91 repositioning flight, collided with the ground while attempting to takeoff to a hover from a portable platform. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter received substantial damage. The commercial pilot reported no injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident on February 21, 2004.

The pilot stated he had completed a flight from Andrews, North Carolina, to Locust Grove, Georgia. He landed on a portable dolly in order to move the helicopter into a hanger for parking. He landed at an angle on the dolly and elected to reposition the helicopter. The dolly was chocked on a 2 to 3-degree down slope. He increased the collective pitch and the dolly started moving. The nose of the helicopter pitched up and to the left, the tail rotor collided with the ground, and he lowered the collective pitch. The tail rotor blades separated and the helicopter started turning to the left. The main rotor blades collided with the ground and the helicopter rolled over on its right side. The pilot stated he did not experience any mechanical problems with the helicopter before the accident.

Examination of the crash site revealed the helicopter came to rest on its right side about 50 feet from the dolly. The tail boom had separated as well as the tail rotor and main rotor blades. Ground scars were located on the ground behind the helicopter where the tail rotor blades had collided with the ground. In addition, ground scars were present on the ground where the main rotor blades collided with the ground.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the helicopter while lifting off a dolly to a hover. This resulted in the tail rotor blades and main rotor blades colliding with the ground and subsequent roll over.