What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.19) On August 18, 2001, at 1432 hours pacific daylight time, an aerospatiale as 355F1 helicopter, N53LH, rolled onto its side and came to rest during takeoff at a remote location, 22 miles northwest of reno, Nevada. The commercial certificated pilot, two flight nurses, and one patient were not injured. The helicopter was substantially damaged. The on-demand, air taxi, medical transport flight was operated under 14 CFR part 135, by rocky mountain holdings, LLC. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company VFR flight plan was filed. According to the operator, the pilot reported that, during liftoff, he encountered a loss of visual reference due to a "brown out" condition. He landed the helicopter and permitted the dust to clear and took off a second time. He again encountered a "brown out," but this time a skid contacted the ground and a dynamic rollover ensued. (-23) during lift off, the pilot experienced a brown out due to dust and lost control of the helicopter which caused a dynamic rollover. (.4) on August 18, 2001, at 1425 hours pacific daylight time, an aerospatiale as 355F1 helicopter, N53LH, rolled onto its side and came to rest during takeoff at a remote location, 4 miles east of Vinton, California. The commercial certificated pilot, two flight nurses, and one patient were not injured. The helicopter was substantially damaged. The on-demand, air taxi, medical transport flight was operated under 14 CFR part 135, by rocky mountain holdings, LLC. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company VFR flight plan was filed. The flight was destined for reno, Nevada. According to the operator, the pilot reported that, during liftoff, he encountered a loss of visual reference due to a "brown out" condition at 3 feet above ground level. He attempted to land the helicopter without any visual reference; however, the right skid contacted the ground first. A rolling motion to the left was created and, after the left skid contacted the ground, a dynamic rollover ensued. The helicopter came to rest on its left side.
As the FAA filed it
(.19) ON AUGUST 18, 2001, AT 1432 HOURS PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, AN AEROSPATIALE AS 355F1 HELICOPTER, N53LH, ROLLED ONTO ITS SIDE AND CAME TO REST DURING TAKEOFF AT A REMOTE LOCATION, 22 MILES NORTHWEST OF RENO, NEVADA. THE COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATED PILOT, TWO FLIGHT NURSES, AND ONE PATIENT WERE NOT INJURED. THE HELICOPTER WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE ON-DEMAND, AIR TAXI, MEDICAL TRANSPORT FLIGHT WAS OPERATED UNDER 14 CFR PART 135, BY ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOLDINGS, LLC. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND A COMPANY VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT, DURING LIFTOFF, HE ENCOUNTERED A LOSS OF VISUAL REFERENCE DUE TO A "BROWN OUT" CONDITION. HE LANDED THE HELICOPTER AND PERMITTED THE DUST TO CLEAR AND TOOK OFF A SECOND TIME. HE AGAIN ENCOUNTERED A "BROWN OUT," BUT THIS TIME A SKID CONTACTED THE GROUND AND A DYNAMIC ROLLOVER ENSUED. (-23) DURING LIFT OFF, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A BROWN OUT DUE TO DUST AND LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER WHICH CAUSED A DYNAMIC ROLLOVER. (.4) ON AUGUST 18, 2001, AT 1425 HOURS PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, AN AEROSPATIALE AS 355F1 HELICOPTER, N53LH, ROLLED ONTO ITS SIDE AND CAME TO REST DURING TAKEOFF AT A REMOTE LOCATION, 4 MILES EAST OF VINTON, CALIFORNIA. THE COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATED PILOT, TWO FLIGHT NURSES, AND ONE PATIENT WERE NOT INJURED. THE HELICOPTER WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE ON-DEMAND, AIR TAXI, MEDICAL TRANSPORT FLIGHT WAS OPERATED UNDER 14 CFR PART 135, BY ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOLDINGS, LLC. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND A COMPANY VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT WAS DESTINED FOR RENO, NEVADA. ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT, DURING LIFTOFF, HE ENCOUNTERED A LOSS OF VISUAL REFERENCE DUE TO A "BROWN OUT" CONDITION AT 3 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND THE HELICOPTER WITHOUT ANY VISUAL REFERENCE; HOWEVER, THE RIGHT SKID CONTACTED THE GROUND FIRST. A ROLLING MOTION TO THE LEFT WAS CREATED AND, AFTER THE LEFT SKID CONTACTED THE GROUND, A DYNAMIC ROLLOVER ENSUED. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.