Event FTW94LA248

Factual narrative

On July 25, 1994, approximately 1300 central daylight time, a Scorpion 133, N845H, was substantially damaged during hovering operations at Fredricksburg, Texas. The non-certificated pilot was the owner, builder, and operator. The pilot sustained serious injuries. Weather at the time of the accident was visual meteorological conditions. Witnesses and family members reported that the pilot was practicing hover operations when he made contact with the ground. The first and second contact resulted in no damage; however, the third ground contact resulted in the left skid breaking and the tail rotor striking the ground. Following the skid failure the pilot looked outside and to the rear of the aircraft to see what damage had occurred, at that time he was struck in the face by a tail rotor blade. The strike resulted in the pilot sustaining serious injuries and a loss of consciousness. The pilot reported wind from the south gusting to 20 miles per hour. He further stated in his enclosed report that while hovering about 18 inches off the ground a gust of wind caught the aircraft. The 13 year old daughter of the pilot observed the event. When the skid collapsed the aircraft leaned over to the right, bringing the main rotor tip path close to the ground. The engine continued to run after the pilot lost consciousness. The daughter crawled under the main rotors and shut down the aircraft. THE NON-CERTIFICATED PILOT WAS PRACTICING HOVERING HIS HOMEBUILT HELICOPTER. AFTER 20 MINUTES OF PRACTICE, THERE WAS A HARD TOUCHDOWN ON THE REAR PORTION OF THE LEFT SKID. THE SKID COLLAPSED AND THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE GROUND. AT THAT TIME THE PILOT TURNED AND LOOKED BACK TOWARD THE TAIL ROTOR AND WAS STRUCK IN THE FACE BY A TAIL ROTOR BLADE. THE PILOT REPORTED WIND FROM THE SOUTH AT 15 MILES PER HOUR, GUSTING TO 20. HE ALSO RELATED THAT A GUST OF WIND CAUGHT THE HELICOPTER WHILE HE WAS HOVERING ABOUT 18 INCHES ABOVE THE GROUND. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12