Incident Overview
A helicopter sustained substantial damage when a net gun fired during a deer capture operation entangled the main rotor blades. The pilot reported that the crew was attempting to capture and collar a live deer with a net gun. The pilot stated that the helicopter was not in position to fire at the deer when the gunner discharged the net gun. The net became tangled in the main rotor blades, causing substantial damage to the blades.
Sequence of Events
According to the pilot, the helicopter was being used for a wildlife management operation involving the capture and collaring of a live deer. The crew intended to use a net gun to catch the deer. The pilot indicated that the helicopter was not in an appropriate position to fire at the deer when the gunner discharged the net gun. The net then became entangled in the main rotor blades. The blades sustained substantial damage as a result.
Aircraft Condition
The pilot reported that there was no prior mechanical malfunction or failure of the helicopter at the time of the accident. The helicopter was functioning normally before the incident. No other issues were noted.
Damage
The main rotor blades sustained substantial damage. The extent of damage likely required extensive repairs. No other damage to the helicopter was mentioned.