What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On may 12 2011, at approximately 1508 hours, a 2008 Bell OH-58/garlick model helicopter, tail number N9263Y, struck the ground in the area of New Athens, IL. There were witness marks on the ground that indicated the helicopter's spray boom struck the ground. The helicopters spray system departed the aircraft and the helicopter's main rotor struck the tail boom, which separated from the aircraft. The aircraft entered a right hand spin and struck the ground in a nose low attitude. The aircraft was destroyed in the crash. The pilot sustained fatal injuries.
As the FAA filed it
ON MAY 12 2011, AT APPROXIMATELY 1508 HOURS, A 2008 BELL OH-58/GARLICK MODEL HELICOPTER, TAIL NUMBER N9263Y, STRUCK THE GROUND IN THE AREA OF NEW ATHENS, IL. THERE WERE WITNESS MARKS ON THE GROUND THAT INDICATED THE HELICOPTER'S SPRAY BOOM STRUCK THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTERS SPRAY SYSTEM DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT AND THE HELICOPTER'S MAIN ROTOR STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM, WHICH SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A RIGHT HAND SPIN AND STRUCK THE GROUND IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED IN THE CRASH. THE PILOT SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.