Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of yaw control and failure to maintain a proper descent rate and his subsequent improper use of the collective instead of the antitorque pedals to correct the yaw, which resulted in a hard landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that, during a vertical descent into a privately owned field and while the helicopter was about 20 ft about ground level, the helicopter yawed right. He then lowered the collective, and the helicopter continued to yaw right, descended, and landed hard. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the cabin assembly. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot added that he mistook the right yaw for a loss of tail rotor effectiveness and should have applied pedal corrections.
Source record
Factual narrative
The helicopter pilot reported that, during a vertical decent into a privately-owned field surrounded by trees and two buildings, about 20 feet about the ground, the helicopter yawed to the right. He then lowered the collective and the helicopter continued to yaw to the right, descended and landed hard on the field. The helicopter manufacturer reported that the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the cabin assembly. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot added that he mistook the right yaw for the loss of tail rotor effectiveness and should have instead applied pedal corrections.