What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On July 8, 2024, at approximately 1900 eastern standard time, the helicopter was operating under CFR part 137 while reloading with fungicide and fuel. The pilot initiated liftoff from the platform unaware the load-hose was not disconnected from the helicopter. The pilot stated immediately after liftoff the helicopter yawed due to what he perceived as a loss of engine power and made an immediate hard landing in a cornfield. The pilot realized the load-hose tension caused the yaw after the landing.
The hard landing caused the top rotor to flex and impact the vertical fins on the tail boom causing damage to the rotor, fins, and possible twisting of tail boom. The helicopter sustained substantial damage.
As the FAA filed it
ON JULY 8, 2024, AT APPROXIMATELY 1900 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, THE HELICOPTER WAS OPERATING UNDER CFR PART 137 WHILE RELOADING WITH FUNGICIDE AND FUEL. THE PILOT INITIATED LIFTOFF FROM THE PLATFORM UNAWARE THE LOAD-HOSE WAS NOT DISCONNECTED FROM THE HELICOPTER. THE PILOT STATED IMMEDIATELY AFTER LIFTOFF THE HELICOPTER YAWED DUE TO WHAT HE PERCEIVED AS A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND MADE AN IMMEDIATE HARD LANDING IN A CORNFIELD. THE PILOT REALIZED THE LOAD-HOSE TENSION CAUSED THE YAW AFTER THE LANDING.
THE HARD LANDING CAUSED THE TOP ROTOR TO FLEX AND IMPACT THE VERTICAL FINS ON THE TAIL BOOM CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE ROTOR, FINS, AND POSSIBLE TWISTING OF TAIL BOOM. THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.