What happened
The aircraft was preparing for departure from a fuel truck when the pilot initiated takeoff. During the initial climb phase, the helicopter failed to gain sufficient altitude to clear an irrigation pipe located directly in front of the flight path. The skids of the aircraft became entangled with the pipe, causing the nose to pitch down and the aircraft to nosed over.
The investigation
Following the incident, the pilot provided a statement regarding the sequence of events. He confirmed that there were no prior mechanical issues or malfunctions with the helicopter before the accident occurred. The pilot stated that he had misjudged the clearance between the aircraft and the pipe during the takeoff maneuver.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude during the initial climb. This resulted in the skids striking the irrigation pipe, which led to the loss of control and the subsequent nose-over. The pilot acknowledged that the error was due to misjudging the clearance rather than any technical failure of the aircraft.