What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Two independent witnesses stated the pilot started the takeoff roll with the rotor in a horizontal position, instead of pitched back as required for the rotor to store energy for flight. The witnesses both stated the takeoff roll was much longer than usual (1000+ feet), and when the pilot pitched the rotor up, the aircraft pitched up, gained about 30 to 40 feet above ground, rolled to the left, and impacted the runway. The left main wheel was broken off at the strut mount. The aircraft continued to roll to the left and the rotors contacted the ground. The fuselage departed the runway on its left side, trapping the pilot’s left arm under the rear windshield. The aircraft came to rest 1400 feet from the departure point of the runway.
As the FAA filed it
TWO INDEPENDENT WITNESSES STATED THE PILOT STARTED THE TAKEOFF ROLL WITH THE ROTOR IN A HORIZONTAL POSITION, INSTEAD OF PITCHED BACK AS REQUIRED FOR THE ROTOR TO STORE ENERGY FOR FLIGHT. THE WITNESSES BOTH STATED THE TAKEOFF ROLL WAS MUCH LONGER THAN USUAL (1000+ FEET), AND WHEN THE PILOT PITCHED THE ROTOR UP, THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED UP, GAINED ABOUT 30 TO 40 FEET ABOVE GROUND, ROLLED TO THE LEFT, AND IMPACTED THE RUNWAY. THE LEFT MAIN WHEEL WAS BROKEN OFF AT THE STRUT MOUNT. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO ROLL TO THE LEFT AND THE ROTORS CONTACTED THE GROUND. THE FUSELAGE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY ON ITS LEFT SIDE, TRAPPING THE PILOT’S LEFT ARM UNDER THE REAR WINDSHIELD. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST 1400 FEET FROM THE DEPARTURE POINT OF THE RUNWAY.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.