What happened
The incident occurred while a helicopter was engaged in aerial application operations. During the maneuvering phase of this work, the pilot reported hearing a distinct "CA-BANG" sound. Immediately following this noise, the pilot experienced a sudden loss of pitch control over the aircraft.
Due to the loss of control, the pilot was unable to manage the helicopter's rate of descent effectively. The aircraft continued its uncontrolled downward trajectory until it impacted sandy terrain. Upon impact, the helicopter nosed over. Despite the significant damage resulting from the crash, a subsequent examination of the wreckage revealed no mechanical anomalies or pre-impact failures that would explain the loss of control.
The investigation
Investigators conducted a physical examination of the helicopter wreckage following the accident. The primary goal was to identify any mechanical failures or structural issues that could have contributed to the event. The inspection focused on the rotor system and flight controls, given the reported loss of pitch control.
The examination concluded that there were no anomalies found in the wreckage. This finding suggests that the failure was not due to a pre-existing mechanical defect detectable by visual or standard post-accident inspection methods.