What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
PIC was flying the helicopter under the supervision of a safety pilot (required per insurance company). ATCT video footage showed that after lift-off, the helicopter flew very erratically for approximately 450 feet. At approximately a 30 foot altitude, the helicopter pitched to a severely nose down attitude. The safety pilot took over the controls and was able to level the aircraft just before it contacted the surface. The accident bent both landing skids, bent the tailboom, and the tail rotor blades contacted the surface.
As the FAA filed it
PIC WAS FLYING THE HELICOPTER UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A SAFETY PILOT (REQUIRED PER INSURANCE COMPANY). ATCT VIDEO FOOTAGE SHOWED THAT AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE HELICOPTER FLEW VERY ERRATICALLY FOR APPROXIMATELY 450 FEET. AT APPROXIMATELY A 30 FOOT ALTITUDE, THE HELICOPTER PITCHED TO A SEVERELY NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE SAFETY PILOT TOOK OVER THE CONTROLS AND WAS ABLE TO LEVEL THE AIRCRAFT JUST BEFORE IT CONTACTED THE SURFACE. THE ACCIDENT BENT BOTH LANDING SKIDS, BENT THE TAILBOOM, AND THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE SURFACE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.