What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On August 24, 2016, at 1500MST, N839PA an Airbus helicopters AS-350B3 helicopter operated by papillon Grand Canyon helicopters incurred minor damage to the lower vertical stabilizer and tail boom while manuevering to depart a helipad from Grand Canyon West Airport (1G4).
The pilot, who was the sole occupant of the helicopter, was not injured.
The pilot stated that he lifted the helicopter into a stabilized hover and began to back up so he could depart to pick up passengers. While backing up, the rear stabilizer got too low and struck the ground. The pilot felt the impact and immediately re-parked the aircraft back onto helipad E3.
As the FAA filed it
ON AUGUST 24, 2016, AT 1500MST, N839PA AN AIRBUS HELICOPTERS AS-350B3 HELICOPTER OPERATED BY PAPILLON GRAND CANYON HELICOPTERS INCURRED MINOR DAMAGE TO THE LOWER VERTICAL STABILIZER AND TAIL BOOM WHILE MANUEVERING TO DEPART A HELIPAD FROM GRAND CANYON WEST AIRPORT (1G4).
THE PILOT, WHO WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE HELICOPTER, WAS NOT INJURED.
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE LIFTED THE HELICOPTER INTO A STABILIZED HOVER AND BEGAN TO BACK UP SO HE COULD DEPART TO PICK UP PASSENGERS. WHILE BACKING UP, THE REAR STABILIZER GOT TOO LOW AND STRUCK THE GROUND. THE PILOT FELT THE IMPACT AND IMMEDIATELY RE-PARKED THE AIRCRAFT BACK ONTO HELIPAD E3.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.