site opened for me OK too. but sure as hell gives ones the heebees straight up.
"a licensed helicopter instructor"
AS, Usually the only way they can separate and not at the same time damage tail boom is by mast bumping, from low G flight such as a pushover from the top of a cyclic climb.
Hard to imagine that from a flight instructor, very hard.
Unless there was a preexisting damage, the investigation would quickly establish that though.
The only other way is that the mast became separated in the xmon (nut comes off bottom of mast) and that has happened a couple of times but mods should have fixed that on all aircraft by now I would guess. That could happen and leave the mast fairing in place.
I saved image and blew it up to reveal what looks like mast fairing still in place. I don't see any flocks of birds in the photo.
Sympathies to all concerned.
Last edited by topendtorque; 2nd Dec 2012 at 17:23.