| Crash location | 35.434166°N, 119.057778°W |
| Nearest city | Bakersfield, CA
35.373292°N, 119.018713°W 4.7 miles away |
| Tail number | N16414 |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 18 May 2014 |
| Aircraft type | Bell 47G |
| Additional details: | None |
The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to move the helicopter off of a trailer onto the ground. As the helicopter began to lift off from the trailer platform, a steel bolt on the landing gear skid caught on the aluminum trailer skirting. The helicopter experienced a dynamic rollover and came to rest on its right side. Shortly thereafter, a fire erupted and the cabin area was consumed.
The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control after the helicopter's skid catching on the side of a trailer during takeoff, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.