Incident Summary
A helicopter engaged in fish spotting missions from a fishing vessel encountered a tail rotor problem during takeoff from the ship. The pilot reported that the helicopter developed a tail rotor issue shortly after lifting off, which led to a series of events culminating in the helicopter sinking.
Sequence of Events
The pilot stated that during takeoff, a tail rotor problem occurred. In response, the pilot reduced the throttle and collective pitch in an attempt to control the yawing motion. Despite these actions, the helicopter's main rotor blade struck the ship. Following the impact, the helicopter landed hard on the water and subsequently sank. The wreckage was not recovered, and the exact nature of the tail rotor problem could not be determined due to the lack of physical evidence.
Investigation Findings
Investigators were unable to recover the wreckage, which precluded a detailed examination of the helicopter's components. Therefore, the specific cause of the tail rotor problem remains unknown. No other information regarding the flight or the circumstances leading to the incident has been released.