What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The pilot picked up a passenger from unimproved site. While on the ground with the helicopter running the passenger secured his gear into the back seat of the helicopter with the seatbelt, then loaded himself into the front of the helicopter.
Shortly after takeoff there was a bang and the aircraft yawed right with increase in vibrations. The pilot lowered power and continued until they found a suitable landing area. They entered autorotation and landed with helicopter remaining upright and no injuries to pilot or passenger.
As the FAA filed it
THE PILOT PICKED UP A PASSENGER FROM UNIMPROVED SITE. WHILE ON THE GROUND WITH THE HELICOPTER RUNNING THE PASSENGER SECURED HIS GEAR INTO THE BACK SEAT OF THE HELICOPTER WITH THE SEATBELT, THEN LOADED HIMSELF INTO THE FRONT OF THE HELICOPTER.
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THERE WAS A BANG AND THE AIRCRAFT YAWED RIGHT WITH INCREASE IN VIBRATIONS. THE PILOT LOWERED POWER AND CONTINUED UNTIL THEY FOUND A SUITABLE LANDING AREA. THEY ENTERED AUTOROTATION AND LANDED WITH HELICOPTER REMAINING UPRIGHT AND NO INJURIES TO PILOT OR PASSENGER.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.