What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Acft lost control and crashed into a pond. (-23) a Bell 206 L-3 helicopter was fire fighting in vicinity of highway 204 reclaw, Texas approximately 20 miles east of jacksonville, Texas. Helicopter was attempting to lift water with "bambi" bucket (144 gal) from local pond on flying "m" ranch when bucket cables became entangled on left skid during lift off. The result during lift off was a dynamic roll over. The damage to the aircraft is substantial. The pilot sustained minor scrapes and bruises. The accident occurred at approximately 1630 hours on 24th July 1998.
As the FAA filed it
ACFT LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A POND. (-23) A BELL 206 L-3 HELICOPTER WAS FIRE FIGHTING IN VICINITY OF HIGHWAY 204 RECLAW, TEXAS APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES EAST OF JACKSONVILLE, TEXAS. HELICOPTER WAS ATTEMPTING TO LIFT WATER WITH "BAMBI" BUCKET (144 GAL) FROM LOCAL POND ON FLYING "M" RANCH WHEN BUCKET CABLES BECAME ENTANGLED ON LEFT SKID DURING LIFT OFF. THE RESULT DURING LIFT OFF WAS A DYNAMIC ROLL OVER. THE DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT IS SUBSTANTIAL. THE PILOT SUSTAINED MINOR SCRAPES AND BRUISES. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 1630 HOURS ON 24TH JULY 1998.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.