What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 08/05/2020, at 1745 CDT, a Hughes 369D, N104SU, registered to privacy data omitted, (5U2L) was conducting airborne vegetation management by sawing trees back from the railroad tracks, and something ( FOD) caught the hanging saw blades, and threw debris up in to the main rotor blades of the helicopter.
The helicopter started vibrating, and forcing the pilot to land in a cornfield. The helicopter rotor blades were substantially damaged, and the pilot had no injuries. The accident happened at address privacy data omitted.
As the FAA filed it
ON 08/05/2020, AT 1745 CDT, A HUGHES 369D, N104SU, REGISTERED TO ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, (5U2L) WAS CONDUCTING AIRBORNE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT BY SAWING TREES BACK FROM THE RAILROAD TRACKS, AND SOMETHING ( FOD) CAUGHT THE HANGING SAW BLADES, AND THREW DEBRIS UP IN TO THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES OF THE HELICOPTER.
THE HELICOPTER STARTED VIBRATING, AND FORCING THE PILOT TO LAND IN A CORNFIELD. THE HELICOPTER ROTOR BLADES WERE SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED, AND THE PILOT HAD NO INJURIES. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED AT ADDRESS ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.