What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
2022-07-06 N64272 crashed in potato field while performing 137 agricultural application.
PIC had been spraying a potato field in N64272 for approximately 5 hours. At the start of the first spray swath after returning from support truck to reload the pilot stated he felt a small jolt and the aircraft hit the ground. PIC sustained serious injuries and aircraft damage was substantial. Aircraft was recovered by operator prior to FAA or NTSB notification. Operator stated main rotor blades, hub and transmission were separated from the aircraft. The blade marked in yellow was found 500 feet west of the aircraft. The blade marked in blue was found 300 feet east of the aircraft and the mast with part of the transmission attached was found 150 feet northeast of the blue blade. Main rotor hub p/n 51437-23 s/n 20067 was installed on the aircraft 12-14-2018, records show 1116.4 time since new and 0.0 time since overhaul on 12/14/2018 at aircraft total time 9441.4. Records show 100 hour inspection and compliance with AD 73-20-03 (main rotor hub dye penetrant inspection) were performed 07/02/2022 1353.1 hobbs 10276 aircraft total time. FAA was unable to inspect field, 7 days had passed before the FAA was notified and the property owner had already been working in the field. The NTSB requested the parts of the main rotor hub and grip assemblies be sent to their lab for examination.
As the FAA filed it
2022-07-06 N64272 CRASHED IN POTATO FIELD WHILE PERFORMING 137 AGRICULTURAL APPLICATION.
PIC HAD BEEN SPRAYING A POTATO FIELD IN N64272 FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 HOURS. AT THE START OF THE FIRST SPRAY SWATH AFTER RETURNING FROM SUPPORT TRUCK TO RELOAD THE PILOT STATED HE FELT A SMALL JOLT AND THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE GROUND. PIC SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES AND AIRCRAFT DAMAGE WAS SUBSTANTIAL. AIRCRAFT WAS RECOVERED BY OPERATOR PRIOR TO FAA OR NTSB NOTIFICATION. OPERATOR STATED MAIN ROTOR BLADES, HUB AND TRANSMISSION WERE SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE BLADE MARKED IN YELLOW WAS FOUND 500 FEET WEST OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE BLADE MARKED IN BLUE WAS FOUND 300 FEET EAST OF THE AIRCRAFT AND THE MAST WITH PART OF THE TRANSMISSION ATTACHED WAS FOUND 150 FEET NORTHEAST OF THE BLUE BLADE. MAIN ROTOR HUB P/N 51437-23 S/N 20067 WAS INSTALLED ON THE AIRCRAFT 12-14-2018, RECORDS SHOW 1116.4 TIME SINCE NEW AND 0.0 TIME SINCE OVERHAUL ON 12/14/2018 AT AIRCRAFT TOTAL TIME 9441.4. RECORDS SHOW 100 HOUR INSPECTION AND COMPLIANCE WITH AD 73-20-03 (MAIN ROTOR HUB DYE PENETRANT INSPECTION) WERE PERFORMED 07/02/2022 1353.1 HOBBS 10276 AIRCRAFT TOTAL TIME. FAA WAS UNABLE TO INSPECT FIELD, 7 DAYS HAD PASSED BEFORE THE FAA WAS NOTIFIED AND THE PROPERTY OWNER HAD ALREADY BEEN WORKING IN THE FIELD. THE NTSB REQUESTED THE PARTS OF THE MAIN ROTOR HUB AND GRIP ASSEMBLIES BE SENT TO THEIR LAB FOR EXAMINATION.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.