What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) While conducting an aerial application, the aircraft struck a power line with its tail rotor. The pilot stated that he conducted a prior inspection of the field revealing there were 2 sets of wires crossing his path. The helicopter was operating at approx 5 ft AGL. The pilot stated that he saw the first set of wires and started a climb to clear the first set of wires (25 ft height). The helicopter tail rotor and lower vertical stabilized made contact with the wire causing the tail rotor and tail rotor gearbox to separate from the aircraft. The pilot tried to maintain directional control and set down the helicopter but due to the uncontrollable yaw the helicopter struck a second set of power lines with its main rotor. The aircraft's main rotor separated and the aircraft came to a standstill in the upright position.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) WHILE CONDUCTING AN AERIAL APPLICATION, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A POWER LINE WITH ITS TAIL ROTOR. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE CONDUCTED A PRIOR INSPECTION OF THE FIELD REVEALING THERE WERE 2 SETS OF WIRES CROSSING HIS PATH. THE HELICOPTER WAS OPERATING AT APPROX 5 FT AGL. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE SAW THE FIRST SET OF WIRES AND STARTED A CLIMB TO CLEAR THE FIRST SET OF WIRES (25 FT HEIGHT). THE HELICOPTER TAIL ROTOR AND LOWER VERTICAL STABILIZED MADE CONTACT WITH THE WIRE CAUSING THE TAIL ROTOR AND TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX TO SEPARATE FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT TRIED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND SET DOWN THE HELICOPTER BUT DUE TO THE UNCONTROLLABLE YAW THE HELICOPTER STRUCK A SECOND SET OF POWER LINES WITH ITS MAIN ROTOR. THE AIRCRAFT'S MAIN ROTOR SEPARATED AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A STANDSTILL IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.