What happened
A pilot and a non-rated passenger were performing a wildlife survey at a ranch. The pilot had transported the helicopter to the location on a trailer and launched directly from the trailer. While maneuvering to land on a ranch road at an altitude of approximately 50 to 60 feet, the pilot turned into the wind. During this maneuver, the aircraft lost sufficient airspeed, triggering the low rotor horn and the low rotor light. The pilot was unable to recover the descent or execute a go-around, leading to a hard landing. During the impact, the main rotor made contact with the tail boom.
The investigation
An examination of the helicopter following the accident revealed that the tail boom had separated from the fuselage.