What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The pilot was performing aerial application over a broccoli field in Garey California when he initiated a climb to 80 feet (AGL) to overfly power lines. As the pilot increased power for the climb he observed engine out & low rotor audio warnings and lost engine RPM.
After crossing the power lines, the pilot entered autorotation, during autorotation the helicopter initiated an uncommand roll to the left. The pilot applied full right cyclic and right pedal but was unable to arrest the roll and the helicopter impacted the ground in a nose down left attitude. The helicopter bounced on impact and landed on its right side.
As the FAA filed it
THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING AERIAL APPLICATION OVER A BROCCOLI FIELD IN GAREY CALIFORNIA WHEN HE INITIATED A CLIMB TO 80 FEET (AGL) TO OVERFLY POWER LINES.AS THE PILOT INCREASED POWER FOR THE CLIMB HE OBSERVED ENGINE OUT & LOW ROTOR AUDIO WARNINGS AND LOST ENGINE RPM.
AFTER CROSSING THE POWER LINES, THE PILOT ENTERED AUTOROTATION, DURING AUTOROTATION THE HELICOPTER INITIATED AN UNCOMMAND ROLL TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT APPLIED FULL RIGHT CYCLIC AND RIGHT PEDAL BUT WAS UNABLE TO ARREST THE ROLL AND THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NOSE DOWN LEFT ATTITUDE. THE HELICOPTER BOUNCED ON IMPACT AND LANDED ON ITS RIGHT SIDE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.