What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Around 1:00 pm on 11/10/2021, pilot stated he started flying a R22 (N7198A) to capture deer on xm villa ranch (16893 east state highway 44, encinal, TX). After attempting to catch deer for approximately 30 minutes, pilot spotted a deer, turned downwind to chase the deer flying between 15-20 feet AGL and got into ?settling with power? Condition. Pilot felt a shudder and stated he knew what he did. Pilot then attempted to keep the helicopter straight, flat, and upright during contact with the ground. The helicopter bounced 2-3 times forward. During the bounce, the main rotor made contact with the tail rotor boom and severed the boom off. The helicopter remained upright on the skids. Neither the pilot nor his passenger received any injuries. The time of the accident was between 1:30-2:00 pm.
As the FAA filed it
AROUND 1:00 PM ON 11/10/2021, PILOT STATED HE STARTED FLYING A R22 (N7198A) TO CAPTURE DEER ON XM VILLA RANCH (16893 EAST STATE HIGHWAY 44, ENCINAL, TX). AFTER ATTEMPTING TO CATCH DEER FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES, PILOT SPOTTED A DEER, TURNED DOWNWIND TO CHASE THE DEER FLYING BETWEEN 15-20 FEET AGL AND GOT INTO ?SETTLING WITH POWER? CONDITION. PILOT FELT A SHUDDER AND STATED HE KNEW WHAT HE DID. PILOT THEN ATTEMPTED TO KEEP THE HELICOPTER STRAIGHT, FLAT, AND UPRIGHT DURING CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTER BOUNCED 2-3 TIMES FORWARD. DURING THE BOUNCE, THE MAIN ROTOR MADE CONTACT WITH THE TAIL ROTOR BOOM AND SEVERED THE BOOM OFF. THE HELICOPTER REMAINED UPRIGHT ON THE SKIDS. NEITHER THE PILOT NOR HIS PASSENGER RECEIVED ANY INJURIES. THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS BETWEEN 1:30-2:00 PM.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.