Helicopter Tail Rotor Contacted Terrain During Landing on Snow-Covered Glacier

Incident Overview A pilot was landing a high-skid equipped helicopter on a snow-covered glacier. After touchdown, both skids sank into the snow, and the tail rotor contacted terrain. The tail rotor drive shaft and tail rotor gear box sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the helicopter. The source does not specify the aircraft type, registration, date, operator, or location. The probable cause is not explicitly stated in the source, but the sequence of events indicates that the skids sinking into the snow led to the tail rotor contacting the terrain.