An atomic beam of helium is scattered from the surface of an aligned nematic liquid crystal film (4’-pentyl-4-cyanbo biphenyl, 5CB). Collisions of atoms with the surface initiate a transient loss of order in the film. The magnitude of this change depends on the momentum direction of the atomic beam with respect to the liquid crystal alignment director. The effect is significantly more pronounced when the incoming beam is perpendicular to the director than when it is parallel. This anisotropy may be due to a more efficient alignment-changing torque exerted on the 5CB molecules by perpendicular collisions with He.