Roller Merlin,
As a former US Army UH-1 pilot and instructor, I cannot imagine why anyone would think that a tail rotor problem in the Huey would be more than an average pilot could deal with. The UH-1 series was not difficult to fly and the military initial and recurrent training emphasized events such as engine failures and tail rotor failures.
Good on your mate that kept his cool and did a nice job!
Who were these US pilots that were so fearful of a tail rotor failure?