Incident Overview
During cruise flight at an altitude of 200 feet above ground level, the pilot of a helicopter heard a loud bang followed by a roaring noise. In response, the pilot initiated an autorotation descent to an open field. The helicopter touched down in a tail-low attitude, then nosed over and slid forward.
Pilot Statement
The pilot reported that after touchdown, he pulled too much aft cyclic, causing the main rotor blades to collide with the tail boom. The pilot's action contributed to the rotor strike.
Investigation Findings
Examination of the helicopter's systems revealed that the outer bearing of the lower gearcase input quill assembly had failed. The reason for the bearing failure could not be determined during the investigation.