Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain yaw control during landing which resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that on short final to land, the helicopter lost tail rotor authority and the helicopter began an uncommanded right yaw. He attempted to recover and landed on a grass area which resulted in a hard landing. The fuselage and skids sustained substantial damage. The pilot noted on his report of the accident that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operations.