R44 down in TX, N514CD Sky Helicopters. 1 Fatal.  Videos show tail rotor and stabs missing from tail boom and after a few revolutions procedes to have main rotor contact tail boom and falls to the ground.  ADSB data shows what looks like multiple VRS entry and exits practices routines with the last 2 more unstable than the others.  Very sad, always liked Sky Helicopters.

https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/helicopter-on-fire-after-crashing-in-rowlett-lakeview-parkway-police-say/287-2d35e563-8c7a-4723-8e19-db84b293ccba>

of it on one of helicopter pilots FB page....shows it falling out of the sky and spinning as well as stabilizer and tailboob falling next to it....kinda craaaaapy thinking what that pilot must have gone thru in a free fall like that....

Rowlett helicopter crash caught on doorbell camera - YouTube

Not for the faint of heart, this is a doorbell across the street from the crash site.

There has been a lot of bird strikes in Texas lately.  Sometimes it's best to hit the bird instead of overcontrolling to climb above the B1RD.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alpGMjCZ83Y

That is beyond horrifying.   RIP

Just doesn't come off like that where it did, blades took it off prior to video starting. sucks

had a friend flying a A109 in New Jersey that lost a rotorblade (manufacturing defect) at 2000ft.  There were 5 people on board and I hate to think about what went through their minds falling all that way.  

Accident Agusta A109A Mk II N21FL, 10 Oct 1989 (aviation-safety.net)

I'm more amazed that the main rotor stayed attached throughout the fall. 

it did during the first part but looks like it came apart after the second contact.  Rotor blades are pretty strong.  A old girfriend of mine had a 206 blade next to the swimming hole that they used as a diving board.  She said they had 5 people on it at once and it wouldn't break.

BELL 220 that fell out of the sky in texas when it was out doing its maint. run with the mechanic on board...whole Rotorhead and blades came off....flying dart with no control....

I remember that one. I think it was because the jesus nut was not torqued.  Whole head and blades came right off the mast.

actually it was not the jesus nut on the careflight crash.  While the careflight crash seems similar to the recent R44 crash where everyone is screaming pilot error, it just gives creedance to the fact to not come to conclusions until all the facts are known.   

"The helicopter was on a postmaintenance flight when it experienced an in-flight breakup about 8 minutes after departure, collided with the ground, and exploded into flames. Several witnesses reported seeing the tail boom, main rotor hub, main rotor blades, and other debris separate from the helicopter. One witness heard a “loud crack” sound. A postaccident examination revealed that the helicopter’s swashplate A-side drive pin had failed in flight, which resulted in the helicopter’s in-flight breakup and uncontrolled descent. The separated head of the drive pin remained in the interior of the swashplate. The fractured drive pin hole exhibited mechanical damage, with the markings of increased amplitude and spacing progressing outward, which suggests that the fractured drive pin oscillated and then ejected from its hole.

The fracture surface of the swashplate A-side drive pin displayed brittle cleavage-like fractures interspersed with intergranular separations and small regions of ductile dimples, consistent with hydrogen embrittlement. The B-side drive pin, on the opposite side, was found intact. Both drive pins met engineering drawing requirements for material, hardness, heat treatment and plating. However, there were no engineering standards for hydrogen content. During tests of two pins intentionally charged with hydrogen, one pin fractured under static load, and the fracture topography was consistent with the fracture topography on the failed A-side pin from the accident helicopter. Based on the fracture topography, it is likely that the swashplate A-side drive pin fractured as a result of hydrogen embrittlement. Investigators were unable to conclusively determine the source of the hydrogen. No other material discrepancies of the drive pin were found. Metallurgical examination revealed that fractures through the mast, B-side pitch link bolt and actuator attachments were consistent with overstress separations.

Not much of a consolation but in the event of blade or blades leaving the aircraft in flight autopsies have pretty well proven that the Out of balance condition contributed to almost instant unconscious and neck fracture prior to impact.  With an aircraft the size of an R44 I don't know if it would be any different.

I can pretty much tell you what it is like. Flying a Navy H46 over the Eastern  Shore of Va in early 1970s. At 1500 ft and 110 Knots did an uncommanded loop. On the way up went into a Hi g pull-up, cyclic did not respond. Tried rudders to roll it but nothing. Yelled at copilot to switch hydraulic systems think maybe a hydraulic problem with flight controls. Nothing. approaching upside down thinking if I could keep positive Gs on it I could bring it down on backside of loop. When upside down rear blades cut most of front blades off and cut helo into three sections. Very violent. Cockpit section finished loop and freefell spinning from about 1800 feet. I remember putting flight controls with, instead of against, the spin thinking maybe controls were reversed. Overhead CB panel broke loose, cracked my helmet and knocked me out. Broke both lower legs on bottom of instrument panel. Lots more to my story but my guess is most pilots work their butt off trying to save the aircraft. As a famous pilot, Bob Hoover,  once said " fly the parts to the ground". 

Mike

It has pedals that use differential pitch to swing the tail right or left. Rudders in my book. 
mike

It is common practice in Naval and Marine Aviation to speak of the antitorque pedals as "rudders." You don't have to like it or approve of it and they aren't going to change it. But that's why the guy who posted said what he said in telling the story. Now you know. 

S-61's have rotory rudders!..

Mike, This happened with HC-6? I was there 75-77 and remember being told about it. A horrible accident. We had our 'dark times' during that period as well. Sometimes it seems like yesterday, other times like another lifetime. 

Poor girl was hanging on for her life with no possible recovery in that situation. 

hanging onto to something do you.

I had heard Robinson started teaching the Vuichard VRS recovery at factory school. Having done it many times in more robust aircraft I found myself wondering if the the Robbie would be tolerant of aggressive tail rotor inputs over the long term in VRS training. 

I assume their engineers had decided it was ok, but the OP statement about multiple VRS practice entries prior to the accident have got me wondering now. 

what do you think? 

Supposedly, the instructor pilot was new. Only 1 motnth on the job. The student pilot was fixed wing licensed. Sounds like a deadly combination.