What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Tail rotor was found damaged during a preflight on 08/11/2012. The louisville flight standards district office was notified by the operator. Inspectors from the FSDO went to the Jenkins, KY heliport to investigate and found that aparently something struck the blade while it was rotating, and it appeared to be something that was picked up from the ground or possibilily in flight while it was rotating. Pilots were unaware when it occured. It was found on the next morning preflight. They reviewed their flight the previous day and went back to the landing pick up site. They walked all around looking for any type of object or obstruction and were unable to find any evidence. The tail rotor blade was replaced and all required inspections were accomplished. No other damage was noted and aircraft was returned to service.
As the FAA filed it
TAIL ROTOR WAS FOUND DAMAGED DURING A PREFLIGHT ON 08/11/2012. THE LOUISVILLE FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE WAS NOTIFIED BY THE OPERATOR. INSPECTORS FROM THE FSDO WENT TO THE JENKINS, KY HELIPORT TO INVESTIGATE AND FOUND THAT APARENTLY SOMETHING STRUCK THE BLADE WHILE IT WAS ROTATING, AND IT APPEARED TO BE SOMETHING THAT WAS PICKED UP FROM THE GROUND OR POSSIBILILY IN FLIGHT WHILE IT WAS ROTATING. PILOTS WERE UNAWARE WHEN IT OCCURED. IT WAS FOUND ON THE NEXT MORNING PREFLIGHT. THEY REVIEWED THEIR FLIGHT THE PREVIOUS DAY AND WENT BACK TO THE LANDING PICK UP SITE. THEY WALKED ALL AROUND LOOKING FOR ANY TYPE OF OBJECT OR OBSTRUCTION AND WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY EVIDENCE. THE TAIL ROTOR BLADE WAS REPLACED AND ALL REQUIRED INSPECTIONS WERE ACCOMPLISHED. NO OTHER DAMAGE WAS NOTED AND AIRCRAFT WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE.