Incident Overview
A helicopter pilot reported that during the second landing on a ridge or saddle, while dropping off passengers for recreational skiing, the tail rotor contacted a higher spot of snow-covered terrain. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the tail boom and the mounting surface for the tail rotor gearbox.
Pilot Account
The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The event occurred during the landing phase of a passenger drop-off operation.
Damage Assessment
The tail rotor strike caused substantial damage to the tail boom and the mounting surface for the tail rotor gearbox. No other damage was reported.
Additional Context
The incident took place on a ridge/saddle terrain feature, which the pilot described as the second landing at that location. The helicopter was being used to transport passengers for recreational skiing activities. The exact time of day, weather conditions, and other environmental factors were not reported in the available source.