What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Experimental mini 500 helicopter struck power lines and crashed. (.19) on November 6, 1998, at 0923 central standard time (CST), a tomschin mini 500, N316AZ, piloted by a non-certificated individual, sustained substantial damage when while in cruise flight, the helicopter struck a power line. The helicopter subsequently impacted into a farm field, 4 miles east of Clinton, Minnesota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR part 91. No flight plan was on file. The individual operating the helicopter at the time of the accident reported no injuries. (-23) pilot was observed by witnesses circling farm at low altitude prior to hitting powerlines. Pilot was also the owner and builder of helicopter. Pilot/owner did not present aircraft logbooks, airworthiness certificate at time of accident investigation. Pilot does nto have a pilot certificate or medical certificate.
As the FAA filed it
EXPERIMENTAL MINI 500 HELICOPTER STRUCK POWER LINES AND CRASHED. (.19) ON NOVEMBER 6, 1998, AT 0923 CENTRAL STANDARD TIME (CST), A TOMSCHIN MINI 500, N316AZ, PILOTED BY A NON-CERTIFICATED INDIVIDUAL, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, THE HELICOPTER STRUCK A POWER LINE. THE HELICOPTER SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED INTO A FARM FIELD, 4 MILES EAST OF CLINTON, MINNESOTA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS ON FILE. THE INDIVIDUAL OPERATING THE HELICOPTER AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT REPORTED NO INJURIES. (-23) PILOT WAS OBSERVED BY WITNESSES CIRCLING FARM AT LOW ALTITUDE PRIOR TO HITTING POWERLINES. PILOT WAS ALSO THE OWNER AND BUILDER OF HELICOPTER. PILOT/OWNER DID NOT PRESENT AIRCRAFT LOGBOOKS, AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE AT TIME OF ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION. PILOT DOES NTO HAVE A PILOT CERTIFICATE OR MEDICAL CERTIFICATE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.