Incident Overview
A pilot landed a helicopter in a parking lot adjacent to his business to drop off a passenger and attend to business matters. After completing his tasks, he initiated a takeoff to the north along the west side of the building, toward a parked van. This departure path did not provide a clear flight path, which prevented the helicopter from remaining in ground effect until translational lift was achieved.
Sequence of Events
The pilot lifted to a hover and began the departure. Approximately 50 feet along the takeoff path, at an altitude of about 16 feet above ground level, the pilot observed a decrease in rotor rpm. Recognizing that the planned departure could not be completed, he elected to execute a forced landing back into the parking lot. During the landing, the pilot veered to the right to avoid striking the van. The helicopter's tail rotor struck an office window, shattering the glass. The impact severely damaged the tail rotor and tail rotor gearbox.
Damage and Aftermath
No injuries were reported. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor assembly and gearbox. The office window was broken. The pilot successfully set the helicopter down in the parking lot after the forced landing.