Circumstances
The pilot, a commercial pilot with 10,370 hours of flight experience, was conducting aerial spraying operations. The helicopter was spraying the south end of a cotton field while on an easterly heading at approximately 10 feet above the ground.
Sequence of Events
During the spray run, the pilot heard the engine make a surge in power. He then scanned the engine instruments, which all indicated normal readings. Shortly after, the helicopter began to lose altitude, and the pilot increased collective pitch in an attempt to gain altitude, but the helicopter could not climb.
The helicopter subsequently impacted the ground in a level attitude, bounced into the air, and began turning left. The pilot applied left cyclic, believing he had regained control, but the left spray boom then struck the cotton plants and began pulling the helicopter into the crop. The helicopter then snapped to the right and started to tumble. It impacted the terrain and came to rest on its right side.
Engine Surge
The reason for the reported engine power surge could not be determined.
Probable Cause
No probable cause was stated in the investigation.