ERA15LA337

The pilot reported that he had just finished spraying one field and was making a 270-degree right turn to line up with a second field. During the turn, the pilot glanced over his left shoulder to select a visual reference point upon which to line up the helicopter after completing the turn. The pilot looked forward again, and the trees lining the fields were immediately in front of him. He attempted to climb the helicopter by applying power but was unable to avoid the trees. The pilot stated that there was no mechanical malfunction or abnormality with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

On September 3, 2015, about 1520 eastern daylight time, a MD-369E Helicopter, N16056, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and the ground while conducting a low altitude aerial application flight near New Smyrna Beach, Florida. The commercial pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the public use aerial application flight, that departed from the New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport (EVB) bout 1500 eastern daylight time. The helicopter was operated by the East Volusia Mosquito District. The pilot reported that he had just finished spraying one field and was planning on making a 270 degree turn to the right to line up with the second field that was adjacent to the first field. During the turn, the pilot glanced over his left shoulder to select a visual reference point to line up on, as he completed his turn. As the pilot looked forward, the trees that were lining the fields were immediately in front of him. He added power in an attempt to ascend, but was unable to avoid the trees. The pilot further reported that after impacting the ground the helicopter rolled to the left, coming to rest on the left side. He further reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or abnormalities that would have precluded normal operation. The commercial pilot and flight instructor had 2,876 total hours flight experience and 309 total hours of flight experience in the accident helicopter make and model helicopter. His most recent flight review was on June 19, 2015. His second-class medical exam was on March 17, 2015, without limitations or waivers. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the helicopter came to rest along a tree line, comprised of trees approximately 50 to 70 feet in height. The fuselage exhibited impact crush damage and the tail boom and tail rotor were separated, but co-located with the main wreckage. One main rotor blade was impact-separated and was located about 250 feet from the main wreckage.