Incident Overview
A helicopter encountered difficulty while attempting to land at an off-airport landing zone. The pilot conducted two approaches before the aircraft struck trees, resulting in damage to the tail rotor assembly. The pilot subsequently diverted to an airport and landed without further incident.
First Approach and Go-Around
The helicopter initially overflew the landing zone, and the pilot initiated an approach from the south. During this approach, the pilot determined that the helicopter was too high and opted to perform a go-around.
Second Approach and Tree Strike
On the second approach, the pilot turned on the landing light and leaned forward to scan the area ahead. The pilot then reported feeling a shudder and recognized that the helicopter had entered a high rate of descent. Power was applied to arrest the sink rate. The helicopter stabilized after turning about 90 degrees, but only after contacting one or more trees. The pilot then applied additional power to climb above the tree line.
Post-Strike Actions
After the tree strike, the pilot assessed the helicopter's controllability. Control response was described as normal, but excessive vibration was felt in the foot pedals, resonating through the fuselage. Considering the rough terrain, low light conditions, and obstacles in the area, the pilot decided not to attempt a landing. Instead, the helicopter was flown to an airport located south of the landing zone. The landing was completed without further issues.
Damage Inspection
A post-flight examination of the helicopter revealed two items of damage. The tail rotor gearbox was partially separated from its mounting, and both tail rotor blades had sustained damage.