Incident Overview
A pilot was transporting an external load of drywall panels when the aircraft's engine chip light illuminated. The pilot set the load down and conducted an inspection of the aircraft and engine, finding no anomalies. After the inspection, the pilot reconnected the cable that was attached to the net containing the panels. However, the cable was inadvertently routed over the top of the right skid tube at the heel.
Sequence of Events
During the subsequent lift-off, the aircraft's nose abruptly pitched up. The aircraft then rolled onto its right side, impacting the terrain. The accident occurred during the external load operation involving drywall panels.
Findings
The investigation determined that the cable was improperly reconnected, passing over the top of the right skid tube. This configuration likely affected the aircraft's handling characteristics during lift-off, leading to the uncontrolled pitch-up and rollover.