What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Training flight departed kffz to the training area (13 NM on a 018 degree heading) at sycamore creek. Terrain flight approaches were performed to the sandy wash utilizing standard approach profiles. After 1 hour and approximately 15 approaches the helicopter returned to kffz. At no point during the flight did the flight crew feel any vibrations or notice any debris within the landing area. On post-flight inspection it was noted that the tail rotor blades were damaged.
The crew does not know where or when this could of happened during the flight.
As the FAA filed it
TRAINING FLIGHT DEPARTED KFFZ TO THE TRAINING AREA (13 NM ON A 018 DEGREE HEADING) AT SYCAMORE CREEK. TERRAIN FLIGHT APPROACHES WERE PERFORMED TO THE SANDY WASH UTILIZING STANDARD APPROACH PROFILES. AFTER 1 HOUR AND APPROXIMATELY 15 APPROACHES THE HELICOPTER RETURNED TO KFFZ. AT NO POINT DURING THE FLIGHT DID THE FLIGHT CREW FEEL ANY VIBRATIONS OR NOTICE ANY DEBRIS WITHIN THE LANDING AREA. ON POST-FLIGHT INSPECTION IT WAS NOTED THAT THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES WERE DAMAGED.
THE CREW DOES NOT KNOW WHERE OR WHEN THIS COULD OF HAPPENED DURING THE FLIGHT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.