What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On departure from airport ramp, helicopter began departure climb over grass area next to new taxi way. The new taxi way was under construction and ground was bulldozed the length of the runway. Silt fencing was installed by the contractor the length of the taxi way. When helicopter passed over the silt fencing, at about 15 feet altitude, the fencing was blown into the main rotor blades. Pilot felt a severe vibration and landed helicopter straight ahead on the newly excavated ground.
As the FAA filed it
ON DEPARTURE FROM AIRPORT RAMP, HELICOPTER BEGAN DEPARTURE CLIMB OVER GRASS AREA NEXT TO NEW TAXI WAY. THE NEW TAXI WAY WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND GROUND WAS BULLDOZED THE LENGTH OF THE RUNWAY. SILT FENCING WAS INSTALLED BY THE CONTRACTOR THE LENGTH OF THE TAXI WAY. WHEN HELICOPTER PASSED OVER THE SILT FENCING, AT ABOUT 15 FEET ALTITUDE, THE FENCING WAS BLOWN INTO THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES. PILOT FELT A SEVERE VIBRATION AND LANDED HELICOPTER STRAIGHT AHEAD ON THE NEWLY EXCAVATED GROUND.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.