What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot making last swath of the day spraying cotton field. Gusty crosswinds appear to have contributed to main rotor loss of lift while spraying field. Pilot stated helicopter began descent and pilot increased power with no effect. Pilot stated he kept increasing collective in order to soften impact. Helicopter impacted ground and rolled over snapping off tail boom. Wind screen busted out of cockpit, main rotor struck ground and bent.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT MAKING LAST SWATH OF THE DAY SPRAYING COTTON FIELD. GUSTY CROSSWINDS APPEAR TO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO MAIN ROTOR LOSS OF LIFT WHILE SPRAYING FIELD. PILOT STATED HELICOPTER BEGAN DESCENT AND PILOT INCREASED POWER WITH NO EFFECT. PILOT STATED HE KEPT INCREASING COLLECTIVE IN ORDER TO SOFTEN IMPACT. HELICOPTER IMPACTED GROUND AND ROLLED OVER SNAPPING OFF TAIL BOOM. WIND SCREEN BUSTED OUT OF COCKPIT, MAIN ROTOR STRUCK GROUND AND BENT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.