What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.4)As the spray helicopter turned downwind en route to his spray tract, he entered a sinking condition from which application of full power did not prevent colliding with trees situated along a ridgeline. (-23) helicopter had just loaded (100 gal) of chemical, lifted off and proceeded westerly at 100 ft. above trees/power lines. With forward air speed of 50 mph on an easterly heading approaching an oil well site the helicopterstarted losing altitude. Full throttle was applied which resulted in no apparent increase in power or RPM. Chemical was dumped and 8 to 10 seconds later aircraft impacted the trees.
As the FAA filed it
(.4)AS THE SPRAY HELICOPTER TURNED DOWNWIND EN ROUTE TO HIS SPRAY TRACT, HE ENTERED A SINKING CONDITION FROM WHICH APPLICATION OF FULL POWER DID NOT PREVENT COLLIDING WITH TREES SITUATED ALONG A RIDGELINE. (-23) HELICOPTER HAD JUST LOADED (100 GAL) OF CHEMICAL, LIFTED OFF AND PROCEEDED WESTERLY AT 100 FT. ABOVE TREES/POWER LINES. WITH FORWARD AIR SPEED OF 50 MPH ON AN EASTERLY HEADING APPROACHING AN OIL WELL SITE THE HELICOPTERSTARTED LOSING ALTITUDE. FULL THROTTLE WAS APPLIED WHICH RESULTED IN NO APPARENT INCREASE IN POWER OR RPM. CHEMICAL WAS DUMPED AND 8 TO 10 SECONDS LATER AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TREES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N1001F · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.