| Crash location | 38.994722°N, 79.145833°W |
| Nearest city | Petersburg, WV
38.992610°N, 79.123924°W 1.2 miles away |
| Tail number | N6738D |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 04 Jul 2006 |
| Aircraft type | Bell 47G-2 |
| Additional details: | None |
As the Bell 47G-2 climbed to about 15-20 feet during a hover, the pilot felt that "something was pushing the helicopter." Shortly thereafter, the helicopter began to descend and the rotor RPM began to decrease. The pilot initiated a precautionary landing, during which the passenger inadvertently pushed on the rudder pedals. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control, and the helicopter rolled onto its side as it touched down.
The passenger's inadvertent interference with the flight controls, which resulted in a loss of directional control and subsequent impact with the ground.