What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On 06/16/2006, at approximately 1230 hours EST this PIC was conducting hover checks at or below five (5) feet AGL, to this experimental homebuilt helicopter at the helipad at Brookhaven-Shirley airport. PIC indicated that he felt a gust of wind and he lost control of the helicopter. The helicopter flipped onto its left side impacting the ground. The aircraft sustained substantial damage and the PIC exited the aircraft without injury. The PIC is a private pilot with a student pilot endorsement for helicopters. The PIC was endorsed to conduct hover solo with limitations of winds not to exceed 10 knots and 5 feet AGL.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON 06/16/2006, AT APPROXIMATELY 1230 HOURS EST THIS PIC WAS CONDUCTING HOVER CHECKS AT OR BELOW FIVE (5) FEET AGL, TO THIS EXPERIMENTAL HOMEBUILT HELICOPTER AT THE HELIPAD AT BROOKHAVEN-SHIRLEY AIRPORT. PIC INDICATED THAT HE FELT A GUST OF WIND AND HE LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER. THE HELICOPTER FLIPPED ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE IMPACTING THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND THE PIC EXITED THE AIRCRAFT WITHOUT INJURY. THE PIC IS A PRIVATE PILOT WITH A STUDENT PILOT ENDORSEMENT FOR HELICOPTERS. THE PIC WAS ENDORSED TO CONDUCT HOVER SOLO WITH LIMITATIONS OF WINDS NOT TO EXCEED 10 KNOTS AND 5 FEET AGL.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.