What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On August 08, 2024, at 2130 local time, a Eurocopter ec 155 bi helicopter, privacy data omitted, registered to a 14 CFR part 135 operator and flown by a commercial rated pilot, sustained minor damage following a blade strike on landing. The aircraft was conducting a lifeflight scene landing at the time of the incident.
According to the pilot he was landing to the west at approximately sunset and did not see the 10-TO-12-foot pine tree in the landing area. As the aircraft settled, the main rotor blades made contact with the tree. The helicopter landed safely and was immediately shutdown.
Photographs show the tree near the right side of the tail with the top missing and showing impact damage. All 4 main rotor blade tip caps showing impact damage. No other damage was reported.
The following day, the blades were removed, and the helicopter trucked to a maintenance facility for repairs.
As the FAA filed it
ON AUGUST 08, 2024, AT 2130 LOCAL TIME, A EUROCOPTER EC 155 BI HELICOPTER, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, REGISTERED TO A 14 CFR PART 135 OPERATOR AND FLOWN BY A COMMERCIAL RATED PILOT, SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE FOLLOWING A BLADE STRIKE ON LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT WAS CONDUCTING A LIFEFLIGHT SCENE LANDING AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT.
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT HE WAS LANDING TO THE WEST AT APPROXIMATELY SUNSET AND DID NOT SEE THE 10-TO-12-FOOT PINE TREE IN THE LANDING AREA. AS THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES MADE CONTACT WITH THE TREE. THE HELICOPTER LANDED SAFELY AND WAS IMMEDIATELY SHUTDOWN.
PHOTOGRAPHS SHOW THE TREE NEAR THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TAIL WITH THE TOP MISSING AND SHOWING IMPACT DAMAGE. ALL 4 MAIN ROTOR BLADE TIP CAPS SHOWING IMPACT DAMAGE. NO OTHER DAMAGE WAS REPORTED.
THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE BLADES WERE REMOVED, AND THE HELICOPTER TRUCKED TO A MAINTENANCE FACILITY FOR REPAIRS.