What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot stated that he was performing low level flight conducted for a rice farmer to assist the natural poulantion of the rice.
He had flown for approx 2.5 hours criss crosseing the rice field as instructed at approx 5 to 6 feet above the rice. During a turn at one edge of the rice field he believes he encountered a wind gust that caused him to loose control. He then found himself in the rice field.
Helicopter was upright in the rice field with blades bent and broken. The tail was partialy separated from the fusalage and severely bent.
Pilot stated that everything was working correctly and that he just somehow messed up. This was pilots first day on the job and first time flying this type of work at low level.
Fuel present. Oil present. Controls were intact and secure except where they were broken.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS PERFORMING LOW LEVEL FLIGHT CONDUCTED FOR A RICE FARMER TO ASSIST THE NATURAL POULANTION OF THE RICE.
HE HAD FLOWN FOR APPROX 2.5 HOURS CRISS CROSSEING THE RICE FIELD AS INSTRUCTED AT APPROX 5 TO 6 FEET ABOVE THE RICE. DURING A TURN AT ONE EDGE OF THE RICE FIELD HE BELIEVES HE ENCOUNTERED A WIND GUST THAT CAUSED HIM TO LOOSE CONTROL. HE THEN FOUND HIMSELF IN THE RICE FIELD.
HELICOPTER WAS UPRIGHT IN THE RICE FIELD WITH BLADES BENT AND BROKEN. THE TAIL WAS PARTIALY SEPARATED FROM THE FUSALAGE AND SEVERELY BENT.
PILOT STATED THAT EVERYTHING WAS WORKING CORRECTLY AND THAT HE JUST SOMEHOW MESSED UP. THIS WAS PILOTS FIRST DAY ON THE JOB AND FIRST TIME FLYING THIS TYPE OF WORK AT LOW LEVEL.
FUEL PRESENT. OIL PRESENT. CONTROLS WERE INTACT AND SECURE EXCEPT WHERE THEY WERE BROKEN.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.