What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On June 4, 2018, at approximately 1000 CDT, N410MM, an R-22BETA helicopter was left idling in a field near Sterling City, Texas. The pilot exited the running helicopter the rpm's increased and the helicopter became airborne without the pilot at the controls. Helicopter?s collective began to creep up, increasing both pitch and throttle, causing the aircraft to rise to stand up on its tail boom then striking the main rotor when it fell to the ground. Accident was not reported to FAA until July 24, 2018, aircraft accident occurred on June 4, 2018 at approximately 0900 CDT. The flight originated from a private ranch near Sterling City, Texas. The aircraft was being operated on a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot sustained no injuries.
As the FAA filed it
ON JUNE 4, 2018, AT APPROXIMATELY 1000 CDT, N410MM, AN R-22BETA HELICOPTER WAS LEFT IDLING IN A FIELD NEAR STERLING CITY, TEXAS. THE PILOT EXITED THE RUNNING HELICOPTER THE RPM'S INCREASED AND THE HELICOPTER BECAME AIRBORNE WITHOUT THE PILOT AT THE CONTROLS. HELICOPTER?S COLLECTIVE BEGAN TO CREEP UP, INCREASING BOTH PITCH AND THROTTLE, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO RISE TO STAND UP ON ITS TAIL BOOM THEN STRIKING THE MAIN ROTOR WHEN IT FELL TO THE GROUND. ACCIDENT WAS NOT REPORTED TO FAA UNTIL JULY 24, 2018, AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON JUNE 4, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 0900 CDT. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM A PRIVATE RANCH NEAR STERLING CITY, TEXAS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AND THE PILOT SUSTAINED NO 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.