I've seen a 500 that suffered a tailboom strike and didn't take the tail off completely. What did happen was that the tail rotor and 'T' tail rotated through 90 degrees. The tail boom metal tore like a tin can. The tail rotor and gearbox never touched the ground even though they were at full RPM and were used again.
It looked like some kind of strange Chinook. (and yes I have pictures, but at present they are on the other side of the planet)
To believe that someone had a tail boom strike, cutting through 50% of the tail and then flew home is very hard to swallow. Show us the pictures!
Maybe the inspecting pilot was blinded by panic and all sense of safety went away with the wind.