What happened
The incident occurred while the pilot was engaged in agricultural operations, specifically spraying a cotton field. According to the pilot's account, the helicopter experienced a failure to maintain adequate engine revolutions per minute (rpm) during this phase of flight. As a result of the power loss, the aircraft settled vertically into the field below.
During the descent, the spray boom attached to the helicopter made contact with the ground. This impact caused the pilot to lose control of the aircraft. The loss of control led to a catastrophic structural failure where the main rotor blade severed the tail boom. The pilot reported that there were no prior mechanical malfunctions or failures that precipitated the accident, indicating the event was likely due to operational factors rather than equipment failure.
The investigation
The investigation relied primarily on the pilot's report regarding the sequence of events. The pilot confirmed that no mechanical issues contributed to the loss of engine power or the subsequent structural damage. No further physical evidence or mechanical examination details were provided in the source material.
Findings
The primary factors leading to the accident included the failure to maintain adequate engine rpm during the agricultural spraying operation. This power deficiency caused the helicopter to settle into the field, resulting in ground contact with the spray boom and subsequent loss of control. The structural damage was a direct result of the main rotor contacting the tail boom after the loss of control.