What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) After a downwind air taxi, the controls became mushy and the helicopter settled into the ground. There are no reports of any pre-impact malfunctions with the helicopter. Estimated altitude was 30-50 feet, airspeed 25 KTS. Winds were reported 330211G16. Helicopter was back taxiing to approach end of runway 32, operating beside the runway. While approaching end of runway, student (manipulating controls) initiated speed slow down and descent. Instructor attempted pedal turn, however tail rotor was ineffective. Instructor realigned helicopter with direction of travel prior to impact. Aircraft dug into ground, stood on its nose, then rolled over on its side. Blades bent/broken, both firewalls wrinkled, all plexiglass broken, tail boom broken off and snapped approx mid length with black paint transfer from m.r. blades.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) AFTER A DOWNWIND AIR TAXI, THE CONTROLS BECAME MUSHY AND THE HELICOPTER SETTLED INTO THE GROUND. THERE ARE NO REPORTS OF ANY PRE-IMPACT MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE HELICOPTER. ESTIMATED ALTITUDE WAS 30-50 FEET, AIRSPEED 25 KTS. WINDS WERE REPORTED 330211G16. HELICOPTER WAS BACK TAXIING TO APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 32, OPERATING BESIDE THE RUNWAY. WHILE APPROACHING END OF RUNWAY, STUDENT (MANIPULATING CONTROLS) INITIATED SPEED SLOW DOWN AND DESCENT. INSTRUCTOR ATTEMPTED PEDAL TURN, HOWEVER TAIL ROTOR WAS INEFFECTIVE. INSTRUCTOR REALIGNED HELICOPTER WITH DIRECTION OF TRAVEL PRIOR TO IMPACT. AIRCRAFT DUG INTO GROUND, STOOD ON ITS NOSE, THEN ROLLED OVER ON ITS SIDE. BLADES BENT/BROKEN, BOTH FIREWALLS WRINKLED, ALL PLEXIGLASS BROKEN, TAIL BOOM BROKEN OFF AND SNAPPED APPROX MID LENGTH WITH BLACK PAINT TRANSFER FROM M.R. BLADES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.