It's lying on it. The tailboom hit first, the rotor's torque instantly flipped it over on its side. (per my buddy at FlightSafety).
Got it, your're right, because it would have dug in when the tail rotor blades touched. Then the torque, combined with the pinning effect of the tail rotor blades (even instantaneus contact)could have pivoted the whole fuselage while the tail remained stationary.
After it rolled and came to rest, it could lift the tail clear, making the point of contact directly below it, and therefore hard to see from the air.
Yup...so....
Why the power loss?
If it was simple mechanical failure, wouldn't the pilot's report have made the news by now?