What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On 11/22/2006, at approximately 100 feet AGL, N1611W experienced failure of one of two external load nylon slings which led to the loss of the load of christmas trees. The steel long line attached to the structural hook, as a result of aerodynamic forces and the reaction to the loss of the load, caused the long line to fling upward. A second nylon sling attached to the long line was flung into the rotor disc. The witness stated that the nylon rope was observed being wound around the rotor mast. He also observed the pilot disconnect the long line hook at that time. Post crash investigation reveals that the pitch change links were broken as a result of the nylon rope windings. The pilot reported total loss of control. The pilot states he reduced power, impacted ground on the right skid. Post crash substantial damage includes separation of right skid, separation of all five rotor blades, loss of tail pylon and tail rotor, and damage to all pitch change links. The pilot and sole occupant, reports no injuries. The pilot operation did not contribute to the cause of the accident.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON 11/22/2006, AT APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET AGL, N1611W EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF ONE OF TWO EXTERNAL LOAD NYLON SLINGS WHICH LED TO THE LOSS OF THE LOAD OF CHRISTMAS TREES. THE STEEL LONG LINE ATTACHED TO THE STRUCTURAL HOOK, AS A RESULT OF AERODYNAMIC FORCES AND THE REACTION TO THE LOSS OF THE LOAD, CAUSED THE LONG LINE TO FLING UPWARD. A SECOND NYLON SLING ATTACHED TO THE LONG LINE WAS FLUNG INTO THE ROTOR DISC. THE WITNESS STATED THAT THE NYLON ROPE WAS OBSERVED BEING WOUND AROUND THE ROTOR MAST. HE ALSO OBSERVED THE PILOT DISCONNECT THE LONG LINE HOOK AT THAT TIME. POST CRASH INVESTIGATION REVEALS THAT THE PITCH CHANGE LINKS WERE BROKEN AS A RESULT OF THE NYLON ROPE WINDINGS. THE PILOT REPORTED TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL. THE PILOT STATES HE REDUCED POWER, IMPACTED GROUND ON THE RIGHT SKID. POST CRASH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE INCLUDES SEPARATION OF RIGHT SKID, SEPARATION OF ALL FIVE ROTOR BLADES, LOSS OF TAIL PYLON AND TAIL ROTOR, AND DAMAGE TO ALL PITCH CHANGE LINKS. THE PILOT AND SOLE OCCUPANT, REPORTS NO INJURIES. THE PILOT OPERATION DID NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.