Incident Overview
An air medical helicopter was conducting a landing on a paved traffic turn-out located immediately next to a state highway. The pilot was hovering the aircraft just above the ground when he decided to reorient the helicopter to facilitate patient loading. During the subsequent right pedal turn, the tail rotor struck a 55-gallon trash barrel.
Sequence of Events
Following the impact, the helicopter began to yaw to the right. In response, the pilot brought the throttles to flight idle and completed the landing. No further information regarding injuries or damage was provided.
Investigation
The investigation determined that the tail rotor contacted the trash barrel during the turning maneuver. No probable cause was stated in the available source.