What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) During an approach to an unimproved landing area, the aircraft entered into a rapid descent, beginning at 75 feet AGL, that resulted in a hard landing. Post-flight inspection indicated that the tail rotor struck the external load during the landing. The tail rotor received extensive damage, and the tail rotor drive shaft sheared at the engine gear box.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) DURING AN APPROACH TO AN UNIMPROVED LANDING AREA, THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED INTO A RAPID DESCENT, BEGINNING AT 75 FEET AGL, THAT RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING. POST-FLIGHT INSPECTION INDICATED THAT THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE EXTERNAL LOAD DURING THE LANDING. THE TAIL ROTOR RECEIVED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE, AND THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT SHEARED AT THE ENGINE GEAR BOX.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.