From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.4)The pilot reported the helicopter was running well with no mechanical difficulties. During an after dusk departure from a ranch, he encountered a dust devil. Dust and grass blew into the cockpit blinding the pilot. While attempting to land, the helicopter collided with trees. (-23)the pilot stated the winds were variable from 040 to 080 degrees and 25 gusting to 35 knots. He entered hovering flight prior to departure and determined all systems were working. He stated that during the transition for departure blowing dust and debris filled the cockpit. His vision was obscured and the helicopter collided with the ground.
As the FAA filed it
(.4)THE PILOT REPORTED THE HELICOPTER WAS RUNNING WELL WITH NO MECHANICAL DIFFICULTIES. DURING AN AFTER DUSK DEPARTURE FROM A RANCH, HE ENCOUNTERED A DUST DEVIL. DUST AND GRASS BLEW INTO THE COCKPIT BLINDING THE PILOT. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND, THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH TREES. (-23)THE PILOT STATED THE WINDS WERE VARIABLE FROM 040 TO 080 DEGREES AND 25 GUSTING TO 35 KNOTS. HE ENTERED HOVERING FLIGHT PRIOR TO DEPARTURE AND DETERMINED ALL SYSTEMS WERE WORKING. HE STATED THAT DURING THE TRANSITION FOR DEPARTURE BLOWING DUST AND DEBRIS FILLED THE COCKPIT. HIS VISION WAS OBSCURED AND THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.