Incident Overview
A helicopter was damaged at a private helipad after the pilot inadvertently started the engine while the main rotor blades were still tied down. The incident occurred during a preflight departure sequence following a previous landing.
Sequence of Events
Upon landing at his private helipad, the pilot secured the main rotor blades by tying them down in a manner that differed from his usual procedure. During the subsequent preflight inspection for departure, the pilot untied the skids but neglected to untie the main rotor blades. Without noticing the constraint, he started the engine.
When the engine was started, the tied-down main rotor blades could not rotate freely. One blade broke approximately 3 feet from the pivot attachment point. The force from the engine start caused the helicopter to swing around roughly 90 degrees on the helipad.
Damage
The breaking of the main rotor blade resulted in additional damage to the helicopter. The tailboom and fuselage were also damaged during the event. The extent of the damage beyond these components is not specified in the available information.
Investigation
No analysis or conclusions have been provided regarding the cause of the incident. The pilot's actions, including the atypical method of tying down the blades and the oversight during preflight, are documented as the factual sequence of events. No probable cause has been stated by investigators.