What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot was practicing ridge top landings. During the first landing attempt, the pilot approached the ridge (landing area) at a 90 degree angle. During the final descent the pilot turned the helicopter parallel to the ridge line. The helicopter settled with power and landed hard on the ridge. The main rotor struck the tail boom. After landing, the pilot exited the helicopter to determine the damage to the tail boom. The main rotor had torn a small hole on the top surface of the tail boom. In addition once the pilot had exited the helicopter, he found that he had landed with a 15 knot tail wind. The pilot stated that there were no visual clues as to wind direction or velocity.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT WAS PRACTICING RIDGE TOP LANDINGS. DURING THE FIRST LANDING ATTEMPT, THE PILOT APPROACHED THE RIDGE (LANDING AREA) AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE. DURING THE FINAL DESCENT THE PILOT TURNED THE HELICOPTER PARALLEL TO THE RIDGE LINE. THE HELICOPTER SETTLED WITH POWER AND LANDED HARD ON THE RIDGE. THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM. AFTER LANDING, THE PILOT EXITED THE HELICOPTER TO DETERMINE THE DAMAGE TO THE TAIL BOOM. THE MAIN ROTOR HAD TORN A SMALL HOLE ON THE TOP SURFACE OF THE TAIL BOOM. IN ADDITION ONCE THE PILOT HAD EXITED THE HELICOPTER, HE FOUND THAT HE HAD LANDED WITH A 15 KNOT TAIL WIND. THE PILOT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO VISUAL CLUES AS TO WIND DIRECTION OR VELOCITY.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N8316N · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.