What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
An experimental exhibition helicopter departing ft. Meyers (fmy) Page Field enroute to st. augustine (ksgj) sustained damage due to unspecified reasons. The initial report described the pilot having yaw issues followed by a hard impact with the ground however, this cannot be substantiated. The helicopter sustained damage to the right vertical fin, tail skid plate and both left and right rear skids and appears made contact with the airframe causing noticeable creases near the cross tube area on the airframe. The right door also hard to close and the PIC stated the door would not close properly on preflight therefore, may indicate previous damage unreported. Further inspection is scheduled to determine any twisting of the airframe and or bulkhead damage. The report will be updated as information is obtained. On 06/15/2020, upon further evaluation of the accident involving a gazelle helicopter, this report is being amended after final inspection. The helicopter considered substantial damage due to additional findings. The frame attached vertically near the crosstube was found to be buckled and torn from its attachment fitting. In addition, the honeycomb panel above the engine near the cabin was also buckled. Therefore, with the aforementioned damage and new reported damage will deem this helicopter substantial.
As the FAA filed it
AN EXPERIMENTAL EXHIBITION HELICOPTER DEPARTING FT. MEYERS (FMY) PAGE FIELD ENROUTE TO ST. AUGUSTINE (KSGJ) SUSTAINED DAMAGE DUE TO UNSPECIFIED REASONS. THE INITIAL REPORT DESCRIBED THE PILOT HAVING YAW ISSUES FOLLOWED BY A HARD IMPACT WITH THE GROUND HOWEVER, THIS CANNOT BE SUBSTANTIATED. THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT VERTICAL FIN, TAIL SKID PLATE AND BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR SKIDS AND APPEARS MADE CONTACT WITH THE AIRFRAME CAUSING NOTICEABLE CREASES NEAR THE CROSS TUBE AREA ON THE AIRFRAME. THE RIGHT DOOR ALSO HARD TO CLOSE AND THE PIC STATED THE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE PROPERLY ON PREFLIGHT THEREFORE, MAY INDICATE PREVIOUS DAMAGE UNREPORTED. FURTHER INSPECTION IS SCHEDULED TO DETERMINE ANY TWISTING OF THE AIRFRAME AND OR BULKHEAD DAMAGE. THE REPORT WILL BE UPDATED AS INFORMATION IS OBTAINED. ON 06/15/2020, UPON FURTHER EVALUATION OF THE ACCIDENT INVOLVING A GAZELLE HELICOPTER, THIS REPORT IS BEING AMENDED AFTER FINAL INSPECTION. THE HELICOPTER CONSIDERED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DUE TO ADDITIONAL FINDINGS. THE FRAME ATTACHED VERTICALLY NEAR THE CROSSTUBE WAS FOUND TO BE BUCKLED AND TORN FROM ITS ATTACHMENT FITTING. IN ADDITION, THE HONEYCOMB PANEL ABOVE THE ENGINE NEAR THE CABIN WAS ALSO BUCKLED. THEREFORE, WITH THE AFOREMENTIONED DAMAGE AND NEW REPORTED DAMAGE WILL DEEM THIS HELICOPTER SUBSTANTIAL.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.