What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Lost control on downwind takeoff from a helipad. Was entering transitional lift pahse being vulneralbe to downwind. (.4) the pilot stated that the conditions were congested (semi-confined) in the area of takeoff. He said that wind gusts, or turbulence surrounding nearby buildings may have contributed to the loss of control during initial climb, when the helicopter pitched down and rolled to the left prior to impact with the terrain.
As the FAA filed it
LOST CONTROL ON DOWNWIND TAKEOFF FROM A HELIPAD. WAS ENTERING TRANSITIONAL LIFT PAHSE BEING VULNERALBE TO DOWNWIND. (.4) THE PILOT STATED THAT THE CONDITIONS WERE CONGESTED (SEMI-CONFINED) IN THE AREA OF TAKEOFF. HE SAID THAT WIND GUSTS, OR TURBULENCE SURROUNDING NEARBY BUILDINGS MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE LOSS OF CONTROL DURING INITIAL CLIMB, WHEN THE HELICOPTER PITCHED DOWN AND ROLLED TO THE LEFT PRIOR TO IMPACT WITH THE TERRAIN.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.