What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Delaware state police 1998 Bell 407 helicopter encountered fog/mist after take-off, the pilot attempted to return to the field, and the acft crashed and was destroyed, other circumstances are unknown. (-23) on a VFR departure at approx. 200 ft., the pilot of Bell 407, N91SP flew into a fog bank while attempting 180 degree turn back toward the runway. The pilot became disoriented and began a 180 degree descending turn. As the heli was in the descending turn, the medic (on board) called to the pilot that the heli was about to hit the fround and the pilot leveled the helo. The helo struck the ground in level attitude, the pilot and medic were uninjured and walked away from the wreckage. The heli was destroyed.
As the FAA filed it
DELAWARE STATE POLICE 1998 BELL 407 HELICOPTER ENCOUNTERED FOG/MIST AFTER TAKE-OFF, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE FIELD, AND THE ACFT CRASHED AND WAS DESTROYED, OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN. (-23) ON A VFR DEPARTURE AT APPROX. 200 FT., THE PILOT OF BELL 407, N91SP FLEW INTO A FOG BANK WHILE ATTEMPTING 180 DEGREE TURN BACK TOWARD THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT BECAME DISORIENTED AND BEGAN A 180 DEGREE DESCENDING TURN. AS THE HELI WAS IN THE DESCENDING TURN, THE MEDIC (ON BOARD) CALLED TO THE PILOT THAT THE HELI WAS ABOUT TO HIT THE FROUND AND THE PILOT LEVELED THE HELO. THE HELO STRUCK THE GROUND IN LEVEL ATTITUDE, THE PILOT AND MEDIC WERE UNINJURED AND WALKED AWAY FROM THE WRECKAGE. THE HELI WAS DESTROYED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.