What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On March 18, 2017 at 0910 at the united rotorcraft facility in Decatur, Texas, a maintenance run on a Bell 412 was being performed by one technician and one contract pilot. The engine cowlings were removed. Per the test, the helicopter became airborne 2-3 feet. The technician saw a ladder had been left nearby and alerted the pilot who knowingly turned the helicopter left to avoid the perceived danger as the tail rotor struck the nearby facility perimeter fence removing approx. 6 inches of each tail rotor blade. The helicopter rotated twice in a clockwise direction before the pilot landed it safely. No injuries, but there was composite tail rotor blade damage. The helicopter did not intend to perform a flight, it was a maintenance test result.
As the FAA filed it
ON MARCH 18, 2017 AT 0910 AT THE UNITED ROTORCRAFT FACILITY IN DECATUR, TEXAS, A MAINTENANCE RUN ON A BELL 412 WAS BEING PERFORMED BY ONE TECHNICIAN AND ONE CONTRACT PILOT. THE ENGINE COWLINGS WERE REMOVED. PER THE TEST, THE HELICOPTER BECAME AIRBORNE 2-3 FEET. THE TECHNICIAN SAW A LADDER HAD BEEN LEFT NEARBY AND ALERTED THE PILOT WHO KNOWINGLY TURNED THE HELICOPTER LEFT TO AVOID THE PERCEIVED DANGER AS THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE NEARBY FACILITY PERIMETER FENCE REMOVING APPROX. 6 INCHES OF EACH TAIL ROTOR BLADE. THE HELICOPTER ROTATED TWICE IN A CLOCKWISE DIRECTION BEFORE THE PILOT LANDED IT SAFELY. NO INJURIES, BUT THERE WAS COMPOSITE TAIL ROTOR BLADE DAMAGE. THE HELICOPTER DID NOT INTEND TO PERFORM A FLIGHT, IT WAS A MAINTENANCE TEST RESULT.