Incident Overview
A pilot reported that after landing at a remote off-airport site, the site owner informed him that the helicopter had collided with a wire during the landing approach. The pilot stated, "I didn't feel anything" when notified of the wire strike.
Pre-Departure Inspection
Before departing on the next leg of the flight, the pilot performed a preflight inspection and found a "slight scratch on the tail rotor." The pilot noted that "the helicopter sounded and felt okay" during the pre-takeoff run-up. Subsequently, the pilot departed for his home base, where the helicopter is stored.
Post-Accident Findings
A post-accident inspection revealed that the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor drive system. The pilot stated that there were no pre-accident malfunctions or anomalies that would have prevented normal flight operation.
Damage Assessment
The tail rotor drive system was significantly damaged as a result of the wire strike, though the impact was not immediately apparent to the pilot during the landing or subsequent checks.