Incident Details
During cruise flight, the commercial pilot encountered a violent vibration in the airframe. This was followed by a loud "pop," after which the helicopter began to yaw to the right. The pilot attempted to correct the adverse yaw but was unable to regain tail rotor control.
Emergency Actions
The pilot deployed the floatation system and performed an autorotation onto the water. Both the pilot and passenger were able to egress the helicopter without incident and entered a life raft. While awaiting rescue, the pilot visually inspected the helicopter from the raft and could observe no damage or malfunction.
Rescue and Aftermath
A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew rescued the pilot and passenger from the water. Prior to recovery, the helicopter capsized due to rough seas, sank, and was not recovered.