What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot prepared the helicopter for a ground test/run-up on a small concrete pad to the northeast of the house, facing south. After the engine was started, the aircraft began to move and scrape along the concrete pad, travelling to the southwest, toward the house (turning right from where it was originally facing). In a series of small hops, the helicopter was apparently not under positive control. The helicopter travelled 75 feet and then the rotor struck a pile of bricks, causing the helicopter to roll onto its right side. The pilot was halfway out of the helicopter when it rolled over him, and he was trapped underneath where the aircraft came to rest. The pilot was pinned underneath the helicopter with major injuries. These injuries caused the pilot to expire at the scene.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT PREPARED THE HELICOPTER FOR A GROUND TEST/RUN-UP ON A SMALL CONCRETE PAD TO THE NORTHEAST OF THE HOUSE, FACING SOUTH. AFTER THE ENGINE WAS STARTED, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO MOVE AND SCRAPE ALONG THE CONCRETE PAD, TRAVELLING TO THE SOUTHWEST, TOWARD THE HOUSE (TURNING RIGHT FROM WHERE IT WAS ORIGINALLY FACING). IN A SERIES OF SMALL HOPS, THE HELICOPTER WAS APPARENTLY NOT UNDER POSITIVE CONTROL. THE HELICOPTER TRAVELLED 75 FEET AND THEN THE ROTOR STRUCK A PILE OF BRICKS, CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO ROLL ONTO ITS RIGHT SIDE. THE PILOT WAS HALFWAY OUT OF THE HELICOPTER WHEN IT ROLLED OVER HIM, AND HE WAS TRAPPED UNDERNEATH WHERE THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST. THE PILOT WAS PINNED UNDERNEATH THE HELICOPTER WITH MAJOR INJURIES. THESE INJURIES CAUSED THE PILOT TO EXPIRE AT THE SCENE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N40506 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.