What happened
On August 24, 2016, an Airbus AS350 operated by Papillon Airways Inc. was performing maneuvers near Peach Springs, AZ. While the helicopter was in a hover and backing away from a landing pad, the vertical stabilizer made contact with rising terrain. Following the impact, the pilot was able to return to the landing pad, located approximately 30 feet away, without further incident.
There were no injuries resulting from this event. Weather conditions at the time were visual meteorological conditions (VMC) with a visibility of 10 statute miles and winds from 230 degrees at 10 knots.
The investigation
An examination of the aircraft N839PA following the event revealed that the rear vertical stabilizer had sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions involving the engine or airframe prior to the impact that would have prevented normal operation.