Ground strike involving a Bell Helicopter Co 47J-2A, VH-KHZ, Head of Bight, SA on 12 May 1993

The helicopter was being repositioned near a cliff edge. As it was lifted to a one metre hover a gust of wind tilted the tail down and the pilot felt a 'thump'. He initially raised the collective control but the helicopter began to rotate rapidly to the right. The throttle was closed and the collective control lowered to prevent the helicopter from falling over the cliff edge. The helicopter landed heavily, after rotating through 270 degrees, bending and breaking the skid crosstubes. Inspection revealed that the tail rotor guard had failed when it contacted the ground. It was then struck by the tail rotor causing the tail rotor drive shaft to fail at the main transmission.