What happened
During an aerial application flight, witnesses near the accident site observed smoke and fire trailing from the helicopter. The pilot reported feeling heat and seeing smoke within the cockpit, which was immediately followed by a loss of engine power.
A witness driving a truck adjacent to a cotton field observed the aircraft flying at an altitude of approximately 20 to 25 feet. According to this witness, the helicopter suddenly fell at a slight angle, descended from the sky, and struck the ground, creating a cloud of white smoke and dust.
Following the accident, the pilot suggested that a malfunction in the spray system may have caused chemicals to be pumped into the engine.