An usual tail-low approach and consequent tailstrike resulted in a Robinson R44 being severely damaged at Julatten in Queensland last year, according to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).
In the investigation report released today, the ATSB said R44 VH-HBV had just arrived from Mossman on 17 August 2017 when the tailstrike led to a roll-over on landing. The only person on board was the pilot, who escaped injury.
"Just prior to touchdown, the pilot pulled back on the cyclic," the ATSB report states. "As a result, the tail rotor struck the ground behind the helicopter. The pilot felt the tail contact the ground through the airframe and pedals. The helicopter shuddered violently and yawed rapidly to the right. As the helicopter completed a 360-degree turn with the skids about 3–5 ft above the ground, the pilot lowered the collective in an attempt to land on the helipad.
"The helicopter was still yawing as the skids contacted the helipad. It rolled over, the main rotor blades struck the ground and the helicopter came to rest on its left side."
The company Chief Pilot was a witness to the accident, and said VH-HVB was in an usual tail-low attitude when it struck a mound of dirt, causing the tail rotor and gearbox to come off the helicopter.
He also commented that the pilot weighed only around 65-70 kg, and without passengers or cargo on board, the R44 centre of gravity (CoG) would have been more aft than normal, which leads to the tail being lower than when loaded. The aircraft had three-quarter fuel on board and the CoG was within limits.
In their findings, the ATSB said the pilot applying aft cyclic contributed to the accident, and that as the ground sloped downward away from the helipad, the tail stinger failed to protect the tail rotor.
The helicopter operator has conducted training with all pilots on flying R44s lightly loaded.
The full accident investigation report is on the ATSB website.