What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
While transitioning from a hover to forward flight at near maximum gross takeoff weight and with a density altitude of approximately 2200 feet, the helicopter settled when pilot attempted to clear a 4 foot berm located 60 feet in front of him. The left skid toe snagged a wire fence which dragged the helicopter to the left. Pilot, unaware that the skid had hooked the fence wire, applied aft cyclic in an attempt to climb. The helicopter continued to roll to the left. Main rotor blades struck the ground at the 270 degree point. Tail rotor impacted the ground at the same time. Subsequent loss of control and sudden stoppage of the main rotor caused substantial damage. Pilot and passenger experienced minor injuries.
As the FAA filed it
WHILE TRANSITIONING FROM A HOVER TO FORWARD FLIGHT AT NEAR MAXIMUM GROSS TAKEOFF WEIGHT AND WITH A DENSITY ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 2200 FEET, THE HELICOPTER SETTLED WHEN PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CLEAR A 4 FOOT BERM LOCATED 60 FEET IN FRONT OF HIM. THE LEFT SKID TOE SNAGGED A WIRE FENCE WHICH DRAGGED THE HELICOPTER TO THE LEFT. PILOT, UNAWARE THAT THE SKID HAD HOOKED THE FENCE WIRE, APPLIED AFT CYCLIC IN AN ATTEMPT TO CLIMB. THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO ROLL TO THE LEFT. MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE GROUND AT THE 270 DEGREE POINT. TAIL ROTOR IMPACTED THE GROUND AT THE SAME TIME. SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF CONTROL AND SUDDEN STOPPAGE OF THE MAIN ROTOR CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. PILOT AND PASSENGER EXPERIENCED MINOR 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.