Incident Overview
After landing, the helicopter was being positioned onto a transport trailer. A ground crewmember first secured the left rear skid to the trailer using a holding pin. He then moved to secure the right front skid, located in front of the pilot, but found it misaligned and was unable to insert the pin.
Procedure Deviation
The briefed procedure called for the crewmember to pin the right front skid first. This sequence was intended to inform the pilot that the aircraft was partially secured to the trailer. However, the left rear skid was secured first, contrary to the established procedure.
Pilot Action and Sequence of Events
Observing the crewmember's difficulty with the right front skid pin, the pilot attempted to lift off and reposition the helicopter. As power was applied, the aircraft rotated around the already-pinned left rear skid. During this rotation, the tail rotor struck the ground. Subsequently, the helicopter spun and rolled, ultimately coming to rest inverted.
Examination and Findings
No specific determination of probable cause was provided in the source material. The incident highlights the importance of adhering to prescribed ground handling procedures.