What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On August 13, 2000, at 1646 PDT Bell heli N174EH collided with mountainous terrain while dropping water on a fire near Cold Springs, NV. According to the witnesses on the ground and a heli pilot following the accident a/c, the heli approached the drop area at approx. 20 knots when it made a sudden 90-degree descending left turn and impact the downsloping terrain. The pilot sustained fatal injuries.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON AUGUST 13, 2000, AT 1646 PDT BELL HELI N174EH COLLIDED WITH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WHILE DROPPING WATER ON A FIRE NEAR COLD SPRINGS, NV. ACCORDING TO THE WITNESSES ON THE GROUND AND A HELI PILOT FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT A/C, THE HELI APPROACHED THE DROP AREA AT APPROX. 20 KNOTS WHEN IT MADE A SUDDEN 90-DEGREE DESCENDING LEFT TURN AND IMPACT THE DOWNSLOPING TERRAIN. THE PILOT SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.