Incident Details
After landing, a crewmember unbuckled his seat belt, disconnected his headset communication cord, and exited the helicopter. The pilot then initiated a vertical takeoff and did not observe the crewmember as the helicopter ascended.
Sequence of Events
At an altitude of about 10 to 15 feet above ground, the pilot sensed a sensation similar to a load being released from the helicopter. After repositioning the aircraft, the pilot observed the crewmember in an apple tree.
Investigation revealed that the crewmember's headset radio cord had inadvertently become entangled with the helicopter's structure. The cord separated when the aircraft began its ascent, causing the crewmember to fall into the tree.
The precise location where the helmet cord became entangled with the helicopter could not be determined.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation did not identify a probable cause for the entanglement. The source states that it could not be determined where the helmet's cord became caught on the helicopter structure.