What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot had refueled at night during a cross country flight. His student did not feel comfortable moving the aircraft from the area. There were other helicopters in the area participating in frost control. Upon lift off the pilot failed to control the aircraft. The aircraft made approximately 3 rotations before hitting a pole that held a fire extingushier. The contact with the tail rotor caused the tail boom to seperate from the aircraft. Aircraft came to rest without tipping over.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT HAD REFUELED AT NIGHT DURING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. HIS STUDENT DID NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE MOVING THE AIRCRAFT FROM THE AREA. THERE WERE OTHER HELICOPTERS IN THE AREA PARTICIPATING IN FROST CONTROL. UPON LIFT OFF THE PILOT FAILED TO CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT MADE APPROXIMATELY 3 ROTATIONS BEFORE HITTING A POLE THAT HELD A FIRE EXTINGUSHIER. THE CONTACT WITH THE TAIL ROTOR CAUSED THE TAIL BOOM TO SEPERATE FROM THE AIRCRAFT. AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST WITHOUT TIPPING OVER.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.