What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Struck trees and terrain scud running in IFR weather. Not found for lengthy period sans ELT. Froze to death. (-23) the aircraft was destroyed during a collision with trees and terrain during low altitude cruise flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot was seriously injured, but succumbed to the cold weather conditions about 18 hours after the accident 14 CFR part 91.207, emergency locator transmitters, does not require this piece of equipment to be carried on a helicopter. The certification office in fort worth advised that they have all the information needed for a safety recommendation to be submitted.
As the FAA filed it
STRUCK TREES AND TERRAIN SCUD RUNNING IN IFR WEATHER. NOT FOUND FOR LENGTHY PERIOD SANS ELT. FROZE TO DEATH. (-23) THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED DURING A COLLISION WITH TREES AND TERRAIN DURING LOW ALTITUDE CRUISE FLIGHT. INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED, BUT SUCCUMBED TO THE COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS ABOUT 18 HOURS AFTER THE ACCIDENT 14 CFR PART 91.207, EMERGENCY LOCATOR TRANSMITTERS, DOES NOT REQUIRE THIS PIECE OF EQUIPMENT TO BE CARRIED ON A HELICOPTER. THE CERTIFICATION OFFICE IN FORT WORTH ADVISED THAT THEY HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION NEEDED FOR A SAFETY RECOMMENDATION TO BE SUBMITTED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.