What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot was conducting agricultural operations at approximately 30 mph and 50 feet above the orange grove. After hearing a loud "pop" noise the helicopter ywaed severely to the right and pitched nose down. The pilot was unable to regain complete control before colliding with orange trees. The helicopter rotated several times before impacting the ground on its left side. The tail rotor 90 degree gear box and tail raotor blade assemblies were located approximately 400 yrds behind the accident site. A tail rotor blade tip weight failed, causing a sever out of balance condition and a drastic change to the weight and balance profile.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT WAS CONDUCTING AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND 50 FEET ABOVE THE ORANGE GROVE. AFTER HEARING A LOUD "POP" NOISE THE HELICOPTER YWAED SEVERELY TO THE RIGHT AND PITCHED NOSE DOWN. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN COMPLETE CONTROL BEFORE COLLIDING WITH ORANGE TREES. THE HELICOPTER ROTATED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND ON ITS LEFT SIDE. THE TAIL ROTOR 90 DEGREE GEAR BOX AND TAIL RAOTOR BLADE ASSEMBLIES WERE LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 400 YRDS BEHIND THE ACCIDENT SITE. A TAIL ROTOR BLADE TIP WEIGHT FAILED, CAUSING A SEVER OUT OF BALANCE CONDITION AND A DRASTIC CHANGE TO THE WEIGHT AND BALANCE PROFILE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.