Incident Overview
A pilot conducting aerial application operations reported that during a loading procedure, the loader placed the water hose across the helicopter's skids due to the positioning of the fill port and ground water tank. After loading was complete, the pilot initiated takeoff. He stated that the helicopter felt as though the skids were dragging through the dirt, despite being approximately 5 feet above the ground. Realizing the water hose nozzle had caught on a skid, the pilot attempted to abort the takeoff. As he began the abort maneuver, the helicopter pitched nose-down, struck the terrain, and rolled onto its right side.
Witness Account
The loader, who also witnessed the accident, noted that this was the final load of the day for that spray location. He reported observing the helicopter enter a hover and noticed the water hose lying over the right skid. He waved and screamed to alert the pilot, but the helicopter had already turned out of his line of sight. The loader then saw the dry lock nozzle hook onto the right skid, causing the helicopter to lurch to the right before impacting the ground.
Post-Crash Events
Following the impact, the loader assisted the pilot in an emergency evacuation from the helicopter. Both individuals observed a post-crash fire. The nearby water truck was empty, and the helicopter was ultimately destroyed by the fire. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Investigation
The investigation did not identify any mechanical issues. The accident sequence was consistent with the hose snagging on the skid, leading to loss of control during the aborted takeoff.