Incident Overview
During a preflight inspection, a helicopter pilot neglected to remove the tail rotor covers. After starting the helicopter, the pilot heard a distinct "snap" and felt the helicopter begin to shake. The aircraft was immediately shut down, and a subsequent visual inspection revealed substantial damage to the tail rotor drive shaft.
Findings
According to the pilot, no other preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures were present that would have precluded normal operation. The issue was isolated to the overlooked tail rotor covers, which likely interfered with the tail rotor system during startup, leading to the observed damage.
Damage Assessment
The tail rotor drive shaft sustained substantial damage as a result of the incident. The extent of the damage required further evaluation before the helicopter could be returned to service.
Pilot Statement
The pilot reported that the error occurred during the preflight check, where the removal of the tail rotor covers was inadvertently missed. The pilot emphasized that there were no other issues with the helicopter prior to the incident.