What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) The aircraft experienced tail rotor vibration during cruise flight. The pilot elected to make a precautionary landing. During the approach to an open field the vibration increased to an unacceptable level when power was applied. The pilot then committed to an autorotation which resulted in landing short of the open field. Between the flare point and touchdown the tail rotor impacted small shrubs or trees and separated from the aircraft. There was also damage to the passenger compartment when a small tree branch penetrated the compartment upon touchdown.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED TAIL ROTOR VIBRATION DURING CRUISE FLIGHT. THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. DURING THE APPROACH TO AN OPEN FIELD THE VIBRATION INCREASED TO AN UNACCEPTABLE LEVEL WHEN POWER WAS APPLIED. THE PILOT THEN COMMITTED TO AN AUTOROTATION WHICH RESULTED IN LANDING SHORT OF THE OPEN FIELD. BETWEEN THE FLARE POINT AND TOUCHDOWN THE TAIL ROTOR IMPACTED SMALL SHRUBS OR TREES AND SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THERE WAS ALSO DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHEN A SMALL TREE BRANCH PENETRATED THE COMPARTMENT UPON TOUCHDOWN.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.