History of Flight
On Sunday morning, 22 June 2025, at approximately 0120Z, the farm manager at Metsi Berries Farm received an alert that the temperature in the blueberry field had dropped below freezing. The manager notified the pilot, who was also on the farmstead, and they drove to the area where the helicopter was parked overnight. The pilot conducted a pre-flight inspection, documenting no anomalies in the flight folio. The helicopter had 180 litres of Avgas LL100 in its fuel tanks. The manager drove to the field, about 50 metres from the parking spot, and after a few minutes heard the engine start. The helicopter lifted off and flew south-easterly. Within two minutes, the helicopter's lights disappeared behind tall trees, followed by a loud bang approximately 600 metres from the lift-off point. The manager drove toward the sound and found the helicopter almost fully submerged in a flooded ditch.
Injuries and Damage
The pilot was fatally injured. The helicopter was destroyed. Post-accident examination of the engine and flight controls revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Meteorological Information
At the time of the accident, wind was from the north-northeast at 0 knots, temperature 2.57°C, dew point 1.3°C.
Probable Cause and Contributing Factor
The investigation determined the probable cause to be loss of control of the helicopter after lift-off, likely due to spatial disorientation caused by frost on the windshield, which restricted the pilot's ability to maintain outside visual references. A contributing factor was inadequate pre-flight planning.