Accident Summary
According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to photograph a nearby golf course. While maneuvering the helicopter to facilitate the photography, the tail rotor assembly collided with trees, after which the helicopter collided with the ground. A passenger reported that the helicopter was traveling backward at approximately 60 feet above the ground at the time.
Examination Findings
Examination of the downed helicopter revealed that wreckage debris was scattered in the immediate vicinity of the impact site. On-site inspection showed that the tail rotor had struck a tree approximately 60 feet above the ground. The center of impact was nearly vertical in direction and located 46 feet from the tree that was struck. The ground scar was consistent with very little or no lateral movement, indicating a near-vertical descent. The helicopter came to rest on its left side on a magnetic heading of 010 degrees. The location was approximately 5 nautical miles southeast of downtown Huntsville, Alabama.
Further examination of the wreckage revealed that the tail boom was separated from the main fuselage, and the tail rotor blade was also separated from the tail boom. The pilot did not report any problems with the helicopter prior to the accident.