From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
During spraying job, an unsecured clipboard from the copilot seat fell down between the tail rotor pedals. Pilot was unable to reach the clipboard, but was able to land the helicopter on the skid. Aft portion of tail boom broke off.
As the FAA filed it
DURING SPRAYING JOB, AN UNSECURED CLIPBOARD FROM THE COPILOT SEAT FELL DOWN BETWEEN THE TAIL ROTOR PEDALS. PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE CLIPBOARD, BUT WAS ABLE TO LAND THE HELICOPTER ON THE SKID. AFT PORTION OF TAIL BOOM BROKE OFF.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.