What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot of N220AF, an experimental helicopter, rotorway talon A600, departed on March 14, 2015, at approximately 13.45 pm local time in VMC conditions from winter havens gilbert airport, Florida (gif), enroute to an area east of lake weohyakopka at Indian lake estates, Florida.
On short final to a grassy area next to the lake, at approximately 14.08 pm local time, the student pilot felt a strong pull of the cyclic control to the left side, for which he attempted to counteract by pushing the cyclic control to the right.
About 20 to 30 feet above the ground the pilot lost control of the helicopter, which then banked to the left side and landed hard in the grass area coming to rest on its right side. The pilot experienced minor injuries and the helicopter was substantially damaged.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT OF N220AF, AN EXPERIMENTAL HELICOPTER, ROTORWAY TALON A600, DEPARTED ON MARCH 14, 2015, AT APPROXIMATELY 13.45 PM LOCAL TIME IN VMC CONDITIONS FROM WINTER HAVENS GILBERT AIRPORT, FLORIDA (GIF), ENROUTE TO AN AREA EAST OF LAKE WEOHYAKOPKA AT INDIAN LAKE ESTATES, FLORIDA.
ON SHORT FINAL TO A GRASSY AREA NEXT TO THE LAKE, AT APPROXIMATELY 14.08 PM LOCAL TIME, THE STUDENT PILOT FELT A STRONG PULL OF THE CYCLIC CONTROL TO THE LEFT SIDE, FOR WHICH HE ATTEMPTED TO COUNTERACT BY PUSHING THE CYCLIC CONTROL TO THE RIGHT.
ABOUT 20 TO 30 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER, WHICH THEN BANKED TO THE LEFT SIDE AND LANDED HARD IN THE GRASS AREA COMING TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. THE PILOT EXPERIENCED MINOR INJURIES AND THE HELICOPTER WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.