Incident Overview
A helicopter sustained substantial damage after a hard landing during a local photographic flight. The pilot was returning to the airport to refuel when the flight chart slipped off his right leg while on short final, approximately five feet above the ground. Distracted while looking down to retrieve the chart, the helicopter subsequently struck the ground in a level attitude on its skids. The passenger described the touchdown as 'abnormally hard.'
Post-Landing Inspection
After landing, the pilot attempted to reposition the helicopter for refueling but found that he had no tail rotor pedal control. He then shut down the helicopter. An examination revealed that the tail boom assembly had been completely severed, and there was damage to the trailing edge of one of the main rotor blades. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the helicopter prior to the incident.
Findings
No mechanical issues were identified. The hard landing resulted from the pilot's momentary distraction while attempting to retrieve the flight chart. The helicopter's tail boom and a main rotor blade were damaged in the event.