What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On July 25, 2015, at approximately 0730 CDT, a Bell 47G-4A, N1420W, registered to hammock flying service, inc., lifted to a hover from a platform atop a fuel truck located at De Queen, Arkansas. During the hover, the aircraft lost lift, descending alongside the fuel truck with both main rotor blades striking the steel railings on the rear of the fuel truck. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a VFR flight plan was not filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the pilot was uninjured. The flight originated on July 25, 2015, at De Queen, Arkansas at 0550 CDT.
As the FAA filed it
ON JULY 25, 2015, AT APPROXIMATELY 0730 CDT, A BELL 47G-4A, N1420W, REGISTERED TO HAMMOCK FLYING SERVICE, INC., LIFTED TO A HOVER FROM A PLATFORM ATOP A FUEL TRUCK LOCATED AT DE QUEEN, ARKANSAS. DURING THE HOVER, THE AIRCRAFT LOST LIFT, DESCENDING ALONGSIDE THE FUEL TRUCK WITH BOTH MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRIKING THE STEEL RAILINGS ON THE REAR OF THE FUEL TRUCK. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND A VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THE PILOT WAS UNINJURED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED ON JULY 25, 2015, AT DE QUEEN, ARKANSAS AT 0550 CDT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.