Event GAA19CA405

Factual narrative

The operator of the helicopter reported that, during takeoff, the pilot allowed the helicopter to drift aft during a pedal turn. As the pilot performed a pedal turn, the main rotor blades struck tree branches that outlined the confined area of the landing zone. The remainder of the flight was completed without incident. Further inspection by the operator's maintenance personal identified two main rotor blades displayed damage at the tips, three fan-in-fin blades displayed bending, a crack in the vertical fin, puncture in the horizonal stabilizer and damage to the anti-torque gear box. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the anti-torque gear box. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The helicopter operator reported that, during takeoff, the pilot allowed the helicopter to drift aft during a pedal turn, which resulted in the main rotor blades impacting tree branches that outlined the confined area of the landing zone. The pilot completed the remainder of the flight without incident. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the antitorque gear box. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• C Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Monitoring environment-Pilot - C
• C Personnel issues-Psychological-Perception/orientation/illusion-Situational awareness-Pilot - C
• C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Tree(s)-Effect on operation - C