What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) The aircraft was on a FAR 91 repositioning ferry flight from apple valley, CA. To sacramento, CA. As the second aircraft in a flight of 2 helicopters. Both aircraft stopped at fresno, CA. For fuel, with a departure time of approximately 1500 PST in the vicinity of Snelling, CA. Approximately 30 minutes after departing fresno, the lead aircraft, a BHT-205A1, N58116 attempted contact with N415B, the BHT-212 on company fm radio. When no response was received, the lead aircraft, N58116 turned to attempt visual contact with N415B. At this time the crew, pilot and director of maintenance, of N58116 observed a column of black smoke. N58116 proceeded to land adjacent to the fire and determined that the BHT-212, N415B had crashed and the pilot was fatally injured.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A FAR 91 REPOSITIONING FERRY FLIGHT FROM APPLE VALLEY, CA. TO SACRAMENTO, CA. AS THE SECOND AIRCRAFT IN A FLIGHT OF 2 HELICOPTERS. BOTH AIRCRAFT STOPPED AT FRESNO, CA. FOR FUEL, WITH A DEPARTURE TIME OF APPROXIMATELY 1500 PST IN THE VICINITY OF SNELLING, CA. APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES AFTER DEPARTING FRESNO, THE LEAD AIRCRAFT, A BHT-205A1, N58116 ATTEMPTED CONTACT WITH N415B, THE BHT-212 ON COMPANY FM RADIO. WHEN NO RESPONSE WAS RECEIVED, THE LEAD AIRCRAFT, N58116 TURNED TO ATTEMPT VISUAL CONTACT WITH N415B. AT THIS TIME THE CREW, PILOT AND DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE, OF N58116 OBSERVED A COLUMN OF BLACK SMOKE. N58116 PROCEEDED TO LAND ADJACENT TO THE FIRE AND DETERMINED THAT THE BHT-212, N415B HAD CRASHED AND THE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.