What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On August 21, 1998, at 0630 hours PDT, a Bell 206B, N223HA entangled a skid in an irrigation pipe upon takeoff after refueling and reloading from an agriculture spray operation. The entangled skid caused the helicopter to roll over. This roll over occurred about 15 miles southeast of Salinas, CA. The pilot lifted off, but did not have enough altitude to clear the irrigation pipe in front of him. (.4) the pilot lifted off from the fuel truck, but did not have enough altitude to clear the irrigation pipe in front of him. The skids became entangled with the pipe and the aircraft nosed over. The pilot reported that he had not experienced any mechanical problems with the helicopter prior to the accident, but had just misjudged the clearance with the pipe.
As the FAA filed it
ON AUGUST 21, 1998, AT 0630 HOURS PDT, A BELL 206B, N223HA ENTANGLED A SKID IN AN IRRIGATION PIPE UPON TAKEOFF AFTER REFUELING AND RELOADING FROM AN AGRICULTURE SPRAY OPERATION. THE ENTANGLED SKID CAUSED THE HELICOPTER TO ROLL OVER. THIS ROLL OVER OCCURRED ABOUT 15 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SALINAS, CA. THE PILOT LIFTED OFF, BUT DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE IRRIGATION PIPE IN FRONT OF HIM. (.4) THE PILOT LIFTED OFF FROM THE FUEL TRUCK, BUT DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE IRRIGATION PIPE IN FRONT OF HIM. THE SKIDS BECAME ENTANGLED WITH THE PIPE AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE HELICOPTER PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, BUT HAD JUST MISJUDGED THE CLEARANCE WITH THE PIPE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.