Investigation Findings
The investigation determined that the tail rotor separated from the helicopter while in flight. The tail rotor assembly was subsequently sent to the manufacturer for detailed analysis.
Hardware Discrepancies
On tail rotor blade 'A', the bolt, nut, and associated hardware that attached the pitch change link to the blade grip were missing. Additionally, the bolt bushing was worn beyond the service limits, mandating its replacement. On blade 'B', the attaching bolt, nut, and hardware were found to be the wrong size. Furthermore, the wrong spacer was attached to the bolt, and four more washers than allowed were installed under the trailing edge blade retaining bolt nut.
Inspection Requirements
According to the preflight inspection requirements, the discrepancies on blade 'A' (the worn bushing) and the incorrect hardware on blade 'B' (the pitch change link) should have been detected during the daily inspection event.