What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot was practicing steep approaches and when she flared, the tail rotor struck the ground. The impact caused torsional failure of the tail rotor driveshaft resulting in loss of the anti-torque system. The helicopter continued down the runway with power applied causing an uncontrollable yaw to the right. Approximately 90 feet from initial impact the right rear skid contacted the ground causing separation of skid, both hockey struts and oleo struts. The helicopter then rolled to the left causing all three main rotor blades to contact the ground. The helicopter came to rest on the right side approximately 150 degrees from the runway heading.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT WAS PRACTICING STEEP APPROACHES AND WHEN SHE FLARED, THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE GROUND. THE IMPACT CAUSED TORSIONAL FAILURE OF THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVESHAFT RESULTING IN LOSS OF THE ANTI-TORQUE SYSTEM. THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED DOWN THE RUNWAY WITH POWER APPLIED CAUSING AN UNCONTROLLABLE YAW TO THE RIGHT. APPROXIMATELY 90 FEET FROM INITIAL IMPACT THE RIGHT REAR SKID CONTACTED THE GROUND CAUSING SEPARATION OF SKID, BOTH HOCKEY STRUTS AND OLEO STRUTS. THE HELICOPTER THEN ROLLED TO THE LEFT CAUSING ALL THREE MAIN ROTOR BLADES TO CONTACT THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST ON THE RIGHT SIDE APPROXIMATELY 150 DEGREES FROM THE RUNWAY HEADING.
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 N1020Q · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.