What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) While conducting an engine run-up prior to flight, aircraft drifted rearward over a drainage ditch. Settling back on the ground, the helicopter tilted down on the aft skids causing the tail rotor to strike the ground and rolling the aircraft on its side. Both pilot and passenger escaped with minor injuries;however, after the accident, the passenger returned to the aircraft to remove personal items when a fire broke out. The passenger received serious burns and was airlifted to a major burn center. Within two weeks, the passenger succumbed to his burns. FAA records indicate that the pilot was not rotocraft rated and did not have a valid medical.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) WHILE CONDUCTING AN ENGINE RUN-UP PRIOR TO FLIGHT, AIRCRAFT DRIFTED REARWARD OVER A DRAINAGE DITCH. SETTLING BACK ON THE GROUND, THE HELICOPTER TILTED DOWN ON THE AFT SKIDS CAUSING THE TAIL ROTOR TO STRIKE THE GROUND AND ROLLING THE AIRCRAFT ON ITS SIDE. BOTH PILOT AND PASSENGER ESCAPED WITH MINOR INJURIES;HOWEVER, AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE PASSENGER RETURNED TO THE AIRCRAFT TO REMOVE PERSONAL ITEMS WHEN A FIRE BROKE OUT. THE PASSENGER RECEIVED SERIOUS BURNS AND WAS AIRLIFTED TO A MAJOR BURN CENTER. WITHIN TWO WEEKS, THE PASSENGER SUCCUMBED TO HIS BURNS. FAA RECORDS INDICATE THAT THE PILOT WAS NOT ROTOCRAFT RATED AND DID NOT HAVE A VALID MEDICAL.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.