What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The aircraft was performing animal capture. The pilot stated that he had just lifted off and was in a hover about 100 feet above ground level (AGL) when a handheld animal capture net gun, held by the passenger, discharged. The aircraft began to vibrate and the pilot landed the aircraft without injury to himself or the passenger. The discharge caused a hole in one rotor blade, and damage to other rotor blades and the rotor and transmission system. No further damage was caused to the aircraft or property.
As the FAA filed it
THE AIRCRAFT WAS PERFORMING ANIMAL CAPTURE. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD JUST LIFTED OFF AND WAS IN A HOVER ABOUT 100 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL (AGL) WHEN A HANDHELD ANIMAL CAPTURE NET GUN, HELD BY THE PASSENGER, DISCHARGED. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRCRAFT WITHOUT INJURY TO HIMSELF OR THE PASSENGER. THE DISCHARGE CAUSED A HOLE IN ONE ROTOR BLADE, AND DAMAGE TO OTHER ROTOR BLADES AND THE ROTOR AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. NO FURTHER DAMAGE WAS CAUSED TO THE AIRCRAFT OR PROPERTY.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.