Incident Overview
A pilot reported that he was flying the second helicopter in a flight of two helicopters landing at the Arlington Park Race Track's parking lot. As he approached the landing zone, he got too close to the lead helicopter. He then slowed the helicopter to almost a hover and attempted a steep approach to the zone. The pilot stated that his airspeed was too slow and the helicopter entered settling with power, resulting in a hard landing.
Pilot Report
The pilot, who was operating the trailing helicopter, described the sequence of events. During the approach, he closed distance to the lead helicopter excessively. In response, he decelerated to near-hover speed and executed a steep descent profile. However, the airspeed became insufficient, leading to a condition commonly known as settling with power. The helicopter subsequently touched down hard.
Context
The incident occurred at the parking lot of Arlington Park Race Track. The flight consisted of two helicopters, with the pilot of the second helicopter providing the account. No further details about the helicopter, occupants, or damage were reported.