Accident Details
During a mosquito breeding inspection flight, the pilot entered a hover approximately 2 feet above a field of tall vegetation. Within 10 to 15 seconds, the nose of the helicopter began to yaw to the right. The pilot applied full left anti-torque pedal and attempted to enter translational lift, but the helicopter continued to rotate. The right skid contacted the ground, and the helicopter rolled onto its side, sustaining substantial damage to the main rotor blades, fuselage, and skids.
Pilot's Report
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions of the helicopter prior to the accident. He recommended that conducting inspections during a cooler part of the day, with the presence of wind, or while moving forward could have prevented the accident.
Weather Conditions
At the time of the accident, an airport weather station located about 6 miles southeast of the accident site reported winds variable at 5 knots and a temperature of 31 degrees Celsius.