What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) The aircraft had just been refueled, pax unloaded, and new pax loaded for an air tour. During this time the pilot had frictioned the controls. Just as the aircraft moved forward from a hover the PIC had to add left cyclic trim and continued until no trim was left. The aircraft began a right roll. The PIC elected to put the aircraft on the ground. The result was a hard landing with the right skid collapsed and damage to the tail boom. There was no main rotor contact with the ground. All occupants were evacuated without incident. Subsequent investigation found no mechanical irregularities with the aircraft. It appears that one of the friction locks on the cyclic was engaged.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) THE AIRCRAFT HAD JUST BEEN REFUELED, PAX UNLOADED, AND NEW PAX LOADED FOR AN AIR TOUR. DURING THIS TIME THE PILOT HAD FRICTIONED THE CONTROLS. JUST AS THE AIRCRAFT MOVED FORWARD FROM A HOVER THE PIC HAD TO ADD LEFT CYCLIC TRIM AND CONTINUED UNTIL NO TRIM WAS LEFT. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN A RIGHT ROLL. THE PIC ELECTED TO PUT THE AIRCRAFT ON THE GROUND. THE RESULT WAS A HARD LANDING WITH THE RIGHT SKID COLLAPSED AND DAMAGE TO THE TAIL BOOM. THERE WAS NO MAIN ROTOR CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. ALL OCCUPANTS WERE EVACUATED WITHOUT INCIDENT. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION FOUND NO MECHANICAL IRREGULARITIES WITH THE AIRCRAFT. IT APPEARS THAT ONE OF THE FRICTION LOCKS ON THE CYCLIC WAS ENGAGED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.