Eurocopter AS 350/355/EC130 - Astar/Twinstar/Ecureuil
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Rotorcraft
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Landed As Precaution
Procedure
Removed tie-downs from main rotor blades and performed walk around. The two medical crewmembers also performed walk arounds. We all failed to see the tail rotor block still attached to the tail rotor. Started aircraft; came to a very low momentary hover; and noted that there was insufficient right pedal. Landed the aircraft back on the ground with no issue.
AS-350 Pilot reported that failure to remove the tail rotor block resulted in insufficient right pedal on initial hover and a return to the ground.