NTSB Factual Report

According to the pilot of the amateur-built Helicycle, he made an uneventful approach to a taxiway during calm winds. About 1 foot above the ground, the nose started yawing to the right. The pilot applied left rudder to no effect, but was able to land the helicopter without incident. All instrument readings were normal, and there were no unusual vibrations. The pilot then felt he had to move the helicopter from the taxiway, lifted it into a hover, and applied right pedal to turn it. The pilot continued raising the collective, and applied left pedal to stop the right turn; however, the turning would not stop. The pilot then lowered the collective, the right skid hit the ground and collapsed, the rotor blades impacted the ground, and the vertical stabilizer was damaged. The pilot held a student pilot certificate for helicopters, but was also a certificated commercial pilot and flight instructor for single-engine and multiengine airplanes. The pilot subsequently determined that a fuel spill on the helicopter's drive belts resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's improper decision to take off with a known discrepancy. Contributing to the accident was spilled fuel on the drive belts.