Incident Overview
A helicopter pilot reported an accident while conducting local practice maneuvers. The pilot had been performing slow hover operations over grass adjacent to a runway. The exercise involved crossing a paved ramp between opposite ends of the runway. Each crossing required climbing to an altitude of 35 to 50 feet before descending on the other side.
Sequence of Events
During one crossing, the wind shifted, resulting in a tailwind. As the pilot began descending after clearing the ramp, the helicopter continued to descend despite power application and would not arrest the descent until it struck the ground. The impact caused the helicopter to bounce approximately 10 to 12 feet into the air.
Pilot Actions and Damage
During the bounce, the pilot experienced an unusual vibration and reported having very little control. The pilot then shut off the master switch and allowed the helicopter to fall. The subsequent ground contact resulted in damage: approximately 2 feet of the tail boom was severed, the skids were bent upward, and the belly and main rotors were damaged. The pilot noted that the impact occurred while the helicopter was settling with power applied.
Conclusion
The accident summary is based solely on the pilot's account. No other factors or causes are provided in the initial report.