Incident Overview
A pilot was returning to his private heliport after refueling at a local airport. During the approach, he flew over a lake to assess wind direction. The pilot reported making a normal approach until encountering a right quartering tailwind near the ground. The helicopter began to sink rapidly, and tail rotor authority was lost, resulting in a loss of directional control.
Pilot Actions
To prevent the helicopter from entering a spin, the pilot turned off the ignition and allowed the helicopter to drop to the ground. The sequence of events as described by the pilot includes a normal approach, sudden rapid sink, loss of tail rotor authority, and subsequent loss of directional control.
Weather and Wind Conditions
The pilot deliberately flew over a local lake to determine the wind direction before landing. The specific wind conditions encountered were described as a 'right quartering tailwind,' which the pilot indicated affected the helicopter's handling during the final phase of the approach.