What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot reported losing power during spray run. N2 was observed below minimum red line. Minimal altitude was obtained, chose to turn away from power lines and out of the tall corn to a clear area in an attempt to avoid more serious damage and attempted auto-rotation. Landed hard breaking the skid struts. Aircraft pitched forward and the main rotor contacted the ground and tail boom, severing the tail boom. Found loose pneumatic line to the fuel control during on scene investigation.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT REPORTED LOSING POWER DURING SPRAY RUN. N2 WAS OBSERVED BELOW MINIMUM RED LINE. MINIMAL ALTITUDE WAS OBTAINED, CHOSE TO TURN AWAY FROM POWER LINES AND OUT OF THE TALL CORN TO A CLEAR AREA IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID MORE SERIOUS DAMAGE AND ATTEMPTED AUTO-ROTATION. LANDED HARD BREAKING THE SKID STRUTS. AIRCRAFT PITCHED FORWARD AND THE MAIN ROTOR CONTACTED THE GROUND AND TAIL BOOM, SEVERING THE TAIL BOOM. FOUND LOOSE PNEUMATIC LINE TO THE FUEL CONTROL DURING ON SCENE INVESTIGATION.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N500NC · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.