Incident Overview
A helicopter was conducting an aerial application flight when it collided with terrain. The pilot reported that while spraying, he heard a loud bang. Immediately afterward, the nose of the helicopter "dove radically down," according to the pilot, and the aircraft crashed into the field.
Site Examination
Examination of the accident site revealed that one of the spray boom extensions had separated from the helicopter. The extension was found approximately 50 yards from the main crash location. Cotton plant stalks were observed entwined around the tip of the boom and tangled in its nozzles.
Pilot Statement
The pilot provided a statement describing the sequence of events: hearing a loud bang during the spraying operation and then experiencing a radical downward pitch of the aircraft, which resulted in the collision with the field. No further details from the pilot were included in the source.
The investigation focused on the physical evidence at the site, including the detached boom and the presence of cotton plant material. No other findings or conclusions were reported.