Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate rotor rpm which resulted in a loss of control and impact with terrain.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that during a hover taxi, he inadvertently allowed the engine rpm to decrease. He increased the throttle, but the helicopter landed hard on its skids in the grass and the tail rotor impacted the ground. The ground strike resulted in substantial damage to the tail rotor blades and tailboom assembly. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot noted that a better scan of the engine instruments could have prevented the accident.