What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) The helicopter was approaching small lake with a 150 ft. log line and bucket attached to its belly. During approach, the pilot believed he was encountering settling with power and executed a 180 degree turn to recover. During the turn, the bucket had settled into the water, causing it to fill and increase the weight on the line, unknown to the pilot. Continuing the turn, the line became fully extended, causing the helicopter to experience dynamic rollover and loss of control, contacting the terrain on its right side.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) THE HELICOPTER WAS APPROACHING SMALL LAKE WITH A 150 FT. LOG LINE AND BUCKET ATTACHED TO ITS BELLY. DURING APPROACH, THE PILOT BELIEVED HE WAS ENCOUNTERING SETTLING WITH POWER AND EXECUTED A 180 DEGREE TURN TO RECOVER. DURING THE TURN, THE BUCKET HAD SETTLED INTO THE WATER, CAUSING IT TO FILL AND INCREASE THE WEIGHT ON THE LINE, UNKNOWN TO THE PILOT. CONTINUING THE TURN, THE LINE BECAME FULLY EXTENDED, CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO EXPERIENCE DYNAMIC ROLLOVER AND LOSS OF CONTROL, CONTACTING THE TERRAIN ON ITS RIGHT 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.