What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Helicopter was lifting bundles of christmas trees when it struck power lines and crashed. (-23) pilot struck and broke high tension power lines running through middle of field where he was conducting christmas tree lift/loading operation. Aircraft was substantially damaged when it struck ground. Pilot died of injuries 1 week after accident. (.4) the pilot had just dropped off a load off christmas trees, and was relocating the helicopter from the north side of a field to the south side when the rotor blades of the helicopter contacted power lines. One witness reported that he heard no abnormal engine noises coming from the helicopter, before the accident. Another witness reported that the pilot appeared to duck just before the helicopter contacted the wires. An on-scene investigation of the airframe and engine did not reveal any abnormalities.
As the FAA filed it
HELICOPTER WAS LIFTING BUNDLES OF CHRISTMAS TREES WHEN IT STRUCK POWER LINES AND CRASHED. (-23) PILOT STRUCK AND BROKE HIGH TENSION POWER LINES RUNNING THROUGH MIDDLE OF FIELD WHERE HE WAS CONDUCTING CHRISTMAS TREE LIFT/LOADING OPERATION. AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT STRUCK GROUND. PILOT DIED OF INJURIES 1 WEEK AFTER ACCIDENT. (.4) THE PILOT HAD JUST DROPPED OFF A LOAD OFF CHRISTMAS TREES, AND WAS RELOCATING THE HELICOPTER FROM THE NORTH SIDE OF A FIELD TO THE SOUTH SIDE WHEN THE ROTOR BLADES OF THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED POWER LINES. ONE WITNESS REPORTED THAT HE HEARD NO ABNORMAL ENGINE NOISES COMING FROM THE HELICOPTER, BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. ANOTHER WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE PILOT APPEARED TO DUCK JUST BEFORE THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED THE WIRES. AN ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION OF THE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY ABNORMALITIES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.