LAX82DA223

Factual narrative

DURING A LANDING, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE CAME TO A 3 FT HOVER THEN INITIATED A DESCENT BY LOWERING THE COLLECTIVE. HE STATED THAT WHEN THE HELICOPTER WAS ABOUT 6 INCHES ABOVE THE GROUND, HE LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE TO COMPLETE THE LANDING, AND AT THAT POINT, A GUST OF WIND ROCKED THE HELICOPTER REARWARD. THE REAR PART OF THE RIGHT SKID STRUCK THE GROUND. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AT ABOUT THAT TIME, HE HEARD AND FELT A SLIGHT THUMP AND EVERYTHING STARTED SPINNING. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER WAS STOPPED ON THE GROUND AND SHUTDOWN. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, AN EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT A TAIL ROTOR BLADE, THE LOWER HALF OF THE VERTICAL FIN AND THE TAIL ROTOR SKID HAD BROKEN. THE PREVAILING WIND WAS FROM 280 DEGREES AT 12 KNOTS. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12