What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23)Aircraft departed republic airport (krfg) for east 34th. St. heliport (K6N5). While enroute to 34th st pilot experienced a severe vibration in the aircraft. Pilot slowed aircraft and made a precautionary landing to a field in old Westbury l.I. On short final (3 feet AGL), as pilot bought aircraft into a hover, vertical fin, tail rotor gear box, tail rotor blades and approx. 3 feet of tail boom departed aircraft. A/c made contact with ground in an upright position after yawing 270 degrees to the left. No injuries were sustained by the pilot the sole occupant of the aircraft.
As the FAA filed it
(-23)AIRCRAFT DEPARTED REPUBLIC AIRPORT (KRFG) FOR EAST 34TH. ST. HELIPORT (K6N5). WHILE ENROUTE TO 34TH ST PILOT EXPERIENCED A SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE AIRCRAFT. PILOT SLOWED AIRCRAFT AND MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING TO A FIELD IN OLD WESTBURY L.I. ON SHORT FINAL (3 FEET AGL), AS PILOT BOUGHT AIRCRAFT INTO A HOVER, VERTICAL FIN, TAIL ROTOR GEAR BOX, TAIL ROTOR BLADES AND APPROX. 3 FEET OF TAIL BOOM DEPARTED AIRCRAFT. A/C MADE CONTACT WITH GROUND IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION AFTER YAWING 270 DEGREES TO THE LEFT. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED BY THE PILOT THE SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE AIRCRAFT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.