What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot stated that, after takeoff from a field near hot springs, MT, the helicopter began to settle back toward the ground. He thought the wind might have shifted from nose to tail. He said there was insufficient power to maintain flight, and he landed hard. Upon impact, the rotors struck the tail boom, tail rotor broke off, skids broke off, and all plexiglass was shattered. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. On-scene portion of investigation completed by ASI r. koffman.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT STATED THAT, AFTER TAKEOFF FROM A FIELD NEAR HOT SPRINGS, MT, THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO SETTLE BACK TOWARD THE GROUND. HE THOUGHT THE WIND MIGHT HAVE SHIFTED FROM NOSE TO TAIL. HE SAID THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT POWER TO MAINTAIN FLIGHT, AND HE LANDED HARD. UPON IMPACT, THE ROTORS STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM, TAIL ROTOR BROKE OFF, SKIDS BROKE OFF, AND ALL PLEXIGLASS WAS SHATTERED. THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED. ON-SCENE PORTION OF INVESTIGATION COMPLETED BY ASI R. KOFFMAN.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.