What happened
On June 25, 2015, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter, registration N842SH, was performing a low-level agricultural flight near Eagle Lake, Texas. During the flight, an iPad that was not secured on the pilot's lap slid off and landed on the collective lever. While the pilot attempted to retrieve the device, he inadvertently applied forward cyclic input. This maneuver caused the aircraft to impact the terrain, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and the tail boom. There were no injuries resulting from the accident.
The investigation
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions involving the engine or the airframe prior to the impact that would have prevented the helicopter from operating normally.