Accident Details
A helicopter experienced an accident during a landing maneuver. The pilot reported that he brought the helicopter to a 3-foot hover and then initiated a descent by lowering the collective. When the helicopter was approximately 6 inches above the ground, he lowered the collective further to complete the landing. At that moment, a gust of wind caused the helicopter to rock rearward, and the rear part of the right skid struck the ground. The pilot reported hearing and feeling a slight thump, after which everything started spinning. The helicopter was subsequently stopped on the ground and shut down.
Damage
Post-accident examination revealed that a tail rotor blade, the lower half of the vertical fin, and the tail rotor skid had broken. No other damage was reported.
Weather Conditions
The prevailing wind at the time of the accident was from 280 degrees at 12 knots, indicating a gusty crosswind or headwind condition.