What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
While performing aerial tree trimming, the pilot received a chip detector light. Started back toward the landing zone when the torque started to decay and engine temps started to climb. Pilot jettisoned the saw rig and looked for a suitable place to land. During the auto rotation the pilot attempted to get the helicopter to a more level landing area, then attempted a run on landing to clear the knoll. The right skid dug into the soft ground. The aircrft lurged forward and then back causing the main rotor to cut the tail boom off.
As the FAA filed it
WHILE PERFORMING AERIAL TREE TRIMMING, THE PILOT RECEIVED A CHIP DETECTOR LIGHT. STARTED BACK TOWARD THE LANDING ZONE WHEN THE TORQUE STARTED TO DECAY AND ENGINE TEMPS STARTED TO CLIMB. PILOT JETTISONED THE SAW RIG AND LOOKED FOR A SUITABLE PLACE TO LAND. DURING THE AUTO ROTATION THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO GET THE HELICOPTER TO A MORE LEVEL LANDING AREA, THEN ATTEMPTED A RUN ON LANDING TO CLEAR THE KNOLL. THE RIGHT SKID DUG INTO THE SOFT GROUND.THE AIRCRFT LURGED FORWARD AND THEN BACK CAUSING THE MAIN ROTOR TO CUT THE TAIL BOOM OFF.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.