Incident Overview
An accident occurred when a helicopter's tail rotor collided with an auxiliary power unit (APU) cart during a hover. According to the pilot, the cart had been positioned near the helicopter and used for engine start. After the engine was started, ground personnel did not remove the cart from the helipad.
Sequence of Events
The pilot reported that shortly after lift off to a hover, intended for track and balance checks, the tail rotor struck the forward portion of the cart. The impact caused substantial damage to the tail boom and tail rotor of the helicopter.
Mechanical Status
The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Analysis
No analysis or conclusions are provided beyond the factual account from the pilot.