What happened
The pilot was conducting agricultural operations, specifically corn pollination, when the accident occurred. At the time of the event, the pilot was approximately 100 yards into a field, maintaining a straight flight path at an airspeed of approximately 30 to 35 knots. The pilot reported that the aircraft appeared to lose engine power, leading to the impact.
Prior to this specific flight, the pilot had operated the helicopter for approximately 1.5 hours and had performed a refueling of the aircraft before commencing the mission. Due to the low altitude required for the pollination task, the pilot stated there was insufficient time to monitor the engine gauges for indications of power loss before the impact occurred.
The investigation
An examination of the helicopter was conducted following the accident. The inspection revealed no anomalies in the mechanical condition or systems of the aircraft.