What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Helicopter landed at Kestrel airpark Spring Branch , Texas for refuel stop. After refuel, pilot began his taxi for departure on runway 12.while exiting refuel area tail rotor made contact with light pole next to refuel station. Tail rotor was severed from helicopter boom causing helicopter to lose control and crash onto pavement adjacent to refuel station. Helicopter sustained major damage. Pilot sustained minor cut to right side of head and was transported to local hospital and was released later that evening. Aircraft had full fuel load. There was no post crash fire.
As the FAA filed it
HELICOPTER LANDED AT KESTREL AIRPARK SPRING BRANCH , TEXAS FOR REFUEL STOP. AFTER REFUEL, PILOT BEGAN HIS TAXI FOR DEPARTURE ON RUNWAY 12.WHILE EXITING REFUEL AREA TAIL ROTOR MADE CONTACT WITH LIGHT POLE NEXT TO REFUEL STATION. TAIL ROTOR WAS SEVERED FROM HELICOPTER BOOM CAUSING HELICOPTER TO LOSE CONTROL AND CRASH ONTO PAVEMENT ADJACENT TO REFUEL STATION. HELICOPTER SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE. PILOT SUSTAINED MINOR CUT TO RIGHT SIDE OF HEAD AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO LOCAL HOSPITAL AND WAS RELEASED LATER THAT EVENING. AIRCRAFT HAD FULL FUEL LOAD. THERE WAS NO POST CRASH FIRE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.