What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Helicopter struck high line utility wires. (-23) pilot was conducting aerial spraying of pesticide on open pasture. He finished spraying pasture area and was going to proceed with spraying a ravine area. Pilot headed east down the ravine at approximately 7:00 am. He failed to see high tension power lines that swooped low into the ravine. The aircraft struck and cut power lines and crashed to the ground tail section first. Aircraft was destroyed. Pilot received no injuries.
As the FAA filed it
HELICOPTER STRUCK HIGH LINE UTILITY WIRES. (-23) PILOT WAS CONDUCTING AERIAL SPRAYING OF PESTICIDE ON OPEN PASTURE. HE FINISHED SPRAYING PASTURE AREA AND WAS GOING TO PROCEED WITH SPRAYING A RAVINE AREA. PILOT HEADED EAST DOWN THE RAVINE AT APPROXIMATELY 7:00 AM. HE FAILED TO SEE HIGH TENSION POWER LINES THAT SWOOPED LOW INTO THE RAVINE. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK AND CUT POWER LINES AND CRASHED TO THE GROUND TAIL SECTION FIRST. AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. PILOT RECEIVED NO INJURIES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.