Incident Overview
A helicopter pilot reported that during a vertical descent into a privately-owned field surrounded by trees and two buildings, approximately 20 feet above the ground, the helicopter yawed to the right. The pilot then lowered the collective, and the helicopter continued to yaw to the right, descended, and landed hard on the field.
Damage Assessment
The helicopter manufacturer reported that the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the cabin assembly as a result of the hard landing.
Pilot's Account
The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. He added that he mistook the right yaw for a loss of tail rotor effectiveness and should have instead applied pedal corrections.