Departure and Spraying
The pilot waited for fog to lift before departing to spray a field. After completing the spraying, the pilot landed the helicopter to refuel for another field located approximately 17 miles away.
Encounter with Fog
Upon departing for the second field, the pilot encountered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) at a low altitude. The pilot initiated a left turn to exit IMC and attempted to cage the attitude indicator. During this maneuver, the helicopter's spray boom struck a tree.
Loss of Control
After the impact, the pilot ascended into the fog. The pilot reported that the helicopter became difficult to control and that he was having problems seeing the ground. The pilot communicated to ground crew that he was losing control of the helicopter. Subsequently, the helicopter impacted trees.
Witness and Weather Conditions
Witnesses located approximately 50 yards from the accident site stated that it was "very foggy" at the time of the accident. According to a nearby weather observation facility, conditions included an overcast sky at 100 feet above ground level and visibility of 1.25 statute miles.
Pilot Experience
The pilot had accumulated 10 hours of simulated instrument flying and had no actual instrument flying experience.