Incident Summary
A photographer suffered fatal injuries when a helicopter's main rotor blade contacted him. The event occurred after the helicopter took off from an area where ground crew had noted the presence of four canopies.
Events Before Takeoff
Before the flight began, ground crew members informed the pilot that four canopies were in the vicinity of the takeoff area. The pilot commenced the takeoff immediately after this communication.
Flight Maneuver
The pilot flew the helicopter along a mowed grass path adjacent to a cornfield. The photographer was standing in the cornfield and was not visible to the pilot. At a low altitude, the pilot executed a steep right bank turn. During this turn, the tip of the main rotor blade struck the photographer, inflicting a fatal injury.