What happened
During an aerial application flight, the pilot maneuvered the helicopter to navigate around a utility pole. While banking to clear the obstacle, the main rotor blades made contact with the pole. Following the impact, the helicopter descended and settled onto its skids on the ground.
The investigation
Post-accident examination revealed that the helicopter sustained substantial damage as a result of the collision with the utility pole. The pilot reported that gusty wind conditions were present during the operation and contributed to the accident.
Findings
The primary factor in this incident was the contact between the main rotor blades and the utility pole during the banking maneuver. Environmental conditions, specifically gusty winds, were cited by the pilot as contributing factors to the loss of control or clearance.