What happened
The accident occurred during the initial climb phase of flight. Shortly after liftoff, while reaching an altitude of approximately 10 to 20 feet above ground level, the helicopter experienced a sudden nose-down pitch and subsequently impacted the terrain. The pilot, who had accumulated 1,181 hours of flight time, informed first responders that he had forgotten to unhook the drag line before initiating takeoff. An examination of the site confirmed that the sling load basket had snagged a flat-bed truck, displacing it by approximately five inches.
The investigation
Investigative findings focused on the mechanical and operational factors leading to the loss of control. The primary discovery was the physical connection between the aircraft's external cargo system and ground equipment. The sling load basket remained attached to the drag line, which had not been released prior to rotation. This oversight resulted in the basket catching a flat-bed truck on the ground.
Findings
The investigation determined that the pilot's failure to perform a critical pre-climb check was the central issue. By neglecting to disconnect the drag line, the aircraft became tethered to an immovable object during the critical takeoff phase. This error prevented the helicopter from climbing normally, leading directly to the nose-down attitude and subsequent impact with the ground.
Safety message
This incident highlights the necessity of verifying all external cargo connections are secure and released as required before initiating flight operations. Pilots must ensure that drag lines and other tethering mechanisms are fully disengaged prior to takeoff to prevent catastrophic interference with ground obstacles.