What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Helicopter was on a maintenance test flight when it crashed under unknown circumstances. Upon approach to (foe) tailrotor departed aircraft. Upon investigation it was determined that the left hand engine cowling had seperated from the aircraft and impacted the tail rotor. FAA engineering from dfw was on scene and also assisted in the investigation. This is evidently not the first occurance for this make/model aircraft.
As the FAA filed it
HELICOPTER WAS ON A MAINTENANCE TEST FLIGHT WHEN IT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES. UPON APPROACH TO (FOE) TAILROTOR DEPARTED AIRCRAFT. UPON INVESTIGATION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE LEFT HAND ENGINE COWLING HAD SEPERATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND IMPACTED THE TAIL ROTOR. FAA ENGINEERING FROM DFW WAS ON SCENE AND ALSO ASSISTED IN THE INVESTIGATION. THIS IS EVIDENTLY NOT THE FIRST OCCURANCE FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL AIRCRAFT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.