What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot on a 91.147 air tour operation took toof off from helipad with passengers on board. After hover and going into a forward motion, pilot notice his door popped open. Pilot took hand off of collective control and attempted to shut door. Helicopter was only a few feet off the ground at that point and in forward motion. Pilot lost control and rotor impacted ground, rolling onto side. Pilot and both 2 passengers were able to exit the helicopter under their own power. They were all transported to hospital for minor injuries. Mostly cuts and abrasions, no broken bones.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT ON A 91.147 AIR TOUR OPERATION TOOK TOOF OFF FROM HELIPAD WITH PASSENGERS ON BOARD. AFTER HOVER AND GOING INTO A FORWARD MOTION, PILOT NOTICE HIS DOOR POPPED OPEN. PILOT TOOK HAND OFF OF COLLECTIVE CONTROL AND ATTEMPTED TO SHUT DOOR. HELICOPTER WAS ONLY A FEW FEET OFF THE GROUND AT THAT POINT AND IN FORWARD MOTION. PILOT LOST CONTROL AND ROTOR IMPACTED GROUND, ROLLING ONTO SIDE. PILOT AND BOTH 2 PASSENGERS WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE HELICOPTER UNDER THEIR OWN POWER. THEY WERE ALL TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL FOR MINOR INJURIES. MOSTLY CUTS AND ABRASIONS, NO BROKEN BONES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.