What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 04-26-2022 at approximately 18:45 aircraft N281SP while performing aerial spraying (aquatic control) of lake apopka, struck the water and lost control of the aircraft and was unable to recover. The aircraft resided in the water and the pilot was rescued by a member of his team.
Through interviews, the pilot stated that the day of the accident when he was spraying it was sunny and the lake was calm creating a glass/slick/mirror effect.
When speaking with the recovery team that was recovering the aircraft, they also stated that the lake was like a mirror when they were recovering the aircraft.
The pilot stated shortly before the incident that he was performing aerial spraying he made radio contact with another helicopter (part of his team) of his current location then glanced at the agnav GPS, which is the last thing he remembered before he hit the water.
The pilot did not seek medical attention.
The pilot had acknowledged and was aware of the difficult conditions that day.
Pilot confirmed that there were no mechanical issues with the airframe, flight controls, or engine.
As the FAA filed it
ON 04-26-2022 AT APPROXIMATELY 18:45 AIRCRAFT N281SP WHILE PERFORMING AERIAL SPRAYING (AQUATIC CONTROL) OF LAKE APOPKA, STRUCK THE WATER AND LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER. THE AIRCRAFT RESIDED IN THE WATER AND THE PILOT WAS RESCUED BY A MEMBER OF HIS TEAM.
THROUGH INTERVIEWS, THE PILOT STATED THAT THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT WHEN HE WAS SPRAYING IT WAS SUNNY AND THE LAKE WAS CALM CREATING A GLASS/SLICK/MIRROR EFFECT.
WHEN SPEAKING WITH THE RECOVERY TEAM THAT WAS RECOVERING THE AIRCRAFT, THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE LAKE WAS LIKE A MIRROR WHEN THEY WERE RECOVERING THE AIRCRAFT.
THE PILOT STATED SHORTLY BEFORE THE INCIDENT THAT HE WAS PERFORMING AERIAL SPRAYING HE MADE RADIO CONTACT WITH ANOTHER HELICOPTER (PART OF HIS TEAM) OF HIS CURRENT LOCATION THEN GLANCED AT THE AGNAV GPS, WHICH IS THE LAST THING HE REMEMBERED BEFORE HE HIT THE WATER.
THE PILOT DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION.
THE PILOT HAD ACKNOWLEDGED AND WAS AWARE OF THE DIFFICULT CONDITIONS THAT DAY.
PILOT CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL ISSUES WITH THE AIRFRAME, FLIGHT CONTROLS, OR ENGINE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.