Incident Overview
A helicopter pilot reported an incident that occurred while hovering forward at a brisk walk. The pilot stated that he heard the low rotor rpm horn, prompting him to lower the collective. This action caused the helicopter to descend rapidly and touch down on the toes of the skids.
Sequence of Events
After touchdown, the helicopter bounced back into the air. During this bounce, the cyclic control grip separated from the cyclic control stick. With the grip detached, the cyclic control moved to the full aft position. As a result, the main rotor blades contacted the tail boom.
Aircraft Condition
The incident resulted in damage to the tail boom from the rotor blade contact. The specific aircraft type, registration, operator, and location were not disclosed in the source. No injuries or fatalities were reported.
Pilot Actions
The pilot's initial response to the low rotor rpm horn was to lower the collective, which led to a rapid descent and hard landing on the skid toes. The subsequent bounce and the separation of the cyclic control grip were unexpected events that led to the tail boom strike.