Examination of a Helicopter Control Cable Fracture that Caused a Loss of Tail Rotor Effectiveness

A helicopter had crashed due to a loss of tail rotor control. It was determined that a steel control cable, which allows the pilot to control tail rotor blade pitch, fractured as a result of wear. The control cable was subject to a 150-hour reoccurring maintenance inspection that should have revealed the worn cable. After the control cable fractured, the tail rotor driveshaft later experienced a sudden stoppage and there was a main rotor blade strike to the tailboom, which left evidence to further confirm that the control cable was the culprit.