Incident Overview
A pilot was engaged in practice of ridge top landings when an accident occurred. During the final approach, the pilot aligned the helicopter perpendicular to the ridgeline. According to the pilot, the absence of wind indicators prevented him from recognizing an apparent wind shift. As the approach progressed, he turned the helicopter parallel to the ridge and executed the landing with a tailwind.
Sequence of Events
The pilot was unable to arrest the high rate of descent and forward airspeed during the landing. The helicopter subsequently landed hard on the ridge. The impact caused the main rotor to strike the tail boom, resulting in substantial damage to the tail boom structure.
Pilot Statement
The pilot attributed the incident to his decision not to use a parallel approach to the ridge and the lack of wind indicators, which masked the wind shift. He noted that the tailwind condition was not perceived until it was too late to correct the approach.
Conclusion
The hard landing and subsequent damage to the tail boom were the direct outcomes of the operational circumstances described. No other contributing factors were reported.