What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Takeoff was from the top of a loading truck. The helo accelerated through effective translational lift when the pilot initiated a climbing right turn into the wind. Suddenly the RPM "dropped like a rock" the pilot verrified he had full "throttle" and lowered the collective. He was able to "milk it" to 5-7' above young almond orchard (trees were approx. 8' tall) when he lost power again. The helo impacted the ground hard with the left skid low.
As the FAA filed it
TAKEOFF WAS FROM THE TOP OF A LOADING TRUCK. THE HELO ACCELERATED THROUGH EFFECTIVE TRANSLATIONAL LIFT WHEN THE PILOT INITIATED A CLIMBING RIGHT TURN INTO THE WIND. SUDDENLY THE RPM "DROPPED LIKE A ROCK" THE PILOT VERRIFIED HE HAD FULL "THROTTLE" AND LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE. HE WAS ABLE TO "MILK IT" TO 5-7' ABOVE YOUNG ALMOND ORCHARD (TREES WERE APPROX. 8' TALL) WHEN HE LOST POWER AGAIN. THE HELO IMPACTED THE GROUND HARD WITH THE LEFT SKID LOW.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.