What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Investigation: on April 7, 2021 at 1800 local at kasg, the pilot of N9274 while on a solo helicopter flight was performing hovering autorotations on the field sod area when the lading gear contacted a soft muddy area causing the aircraft to yaw, and subsequently break off the tail stinger as it rolled aft. No other damage or injuries sustained.
Investigation revealed the pilot failed to assess the suitability of the landing area and improper control movements during the hovering autorotations. No regulatory violations discovered.
Root cause analysis: complacency
Corrective action: pilot agreed to have a CFII fly with him to ensure proper control movements during hovering autorotations, and hovering maneuvers.
Comments: airman had a compliant attitude and agreed to provide any and all documentation requested.
As the FAA filed it
INVESTIGATION: ON APRIL 7, 2021 AT 1800 LOCAL AT KASG, THE PILOT OF N9274 WHILE ON A SOLO HELICOPTER FLIGHT WAS PERFORMING HOVERING AUTOROTATIONS ON THE FIELD SOD AREA WHEN THE LADING GEAR CONTACTED A SOFT MUDDY AREA CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO YAW, AND SUBSEQUENTLY BREAK OFF THE TAIL STINGER AS IT ROLLED AFT. NO OTHER DAMAGE OR INJURIES SUSTAINED.
INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE PILOT FAILED TO ASSESS THE SUITABILITY OF THE LANDING AREA AND IMPROPER CONTROL MOVEMENTS DURING THE HOVERING AUTOROTATIONS. NO REGULATORY VIOLATIONS DISCOVERED.
ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS: COMPLACENCY
CORRECTIVE ACTION: PILOT AGREED TO HAVE A CFII FLY WITH HIM TO ENSURE PROPER CONTROL MOVEMENTS DURING HOVERING AUTOROTATIONS, AND HOVERING MANEUVERS.
COMMENTS: AIRMAN HAD A COMPLIANT ATTITUDE AND AGREED TO PROVIDE ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTATION REQUESTED.