What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The airman was conducting part 137 spray operations and made a cleanup pass along the edge of a field, descending to approximately 15 feet above the vegetation. After completing the pass, the airman attempted to climb above a row of trees. During this maneuver, the tail rotor struck a tree branch, causing the aircraft to enter an uncontrollable spin. The aircraft spun two to three times before impacting the ground and coming to rest on its left side.
As the FAA filed it
THE AIRMAN WAS CONDUCTING PART 137 SPRAY OPERATIONS AND MADE A CLEANUP PASS ALONG THE EDGE OF A FIELD, DESCENDING TO APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET ABOVE THE VEGETATION. AFTER COMPLETING THE PASS, THE AIRMAN ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB ABOVE A ROW OF TREES. DURING THIS MANEUVER, THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK A TREE BRANCH, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO ENTER AN UNCONTROLLABLE SPIN. THE AIRCRAFT SPUN TWO TO THREE TIMES BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND AND COMING TO REST ON ITS LEFT 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.
Other reports on N225AM · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.