Bell 206B JetRanger, New Orleans, Sept. 7, 2005–A JetRanger photo flight operated by Helitrans of Manvel, Texas, crashed while maneuvering within the New Orleans temporary flight restricted area established after Hurricane Katrina. At “approximately 500 feet and 40 knots in a left turn,” the JetRanger’s nose “pitched up and began to turn right.”
The commercial pilot’s “first reaction was to apply left pedal.” With no response, he lowered the nose and followed the right turn. Trying to stop the rotation, he lowered the collective and this “appeared to help.” He then saw powerlines ahead and “pulled back on the cyclic and up on the collective” to clear them. The helicopter subsequently turned approximately 180 degrees and hit the roof of a house. Minor injuries were reported.