What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-19) On January 25, 2001, at 1812 EST, an Enstrom 480 helicopter, N704G, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged on impact with a frozen lake near Dryden, MI. The a/c was on the downwind leg of an approach to land at the pilot's private heliport. The 14 CFR part 91 flight was not on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot was seriously injured, and the two passengers received minor injuries. The departure point and time have not been determined. (.23) pilot was descending s. downwind to turn left base when the helicopter lost altitude suddenly and crashed onto frozen lake surface, skidding more than 300 yds and spinning around and came to rest facing north. No mechanical or engine failures were found during investigation.
As the FAA filed it
(-19) ON JANUARY 25, 2001, AT 1812 EST, AN ENSTROM 480 HELICOPTER, N704G, PILOTED BY A PRIVATE PILOT, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED ON IMPACT WITH A FROZEN LAKE NEAR DRYDEN, MI. THE A/C WAS ON THE DOWNWIND LEG OF AN APPROACH TO LAND AT THE PILOT'S PRIVATE HELIPORT. THE 14 CFR PART 91 FLIGHT WAS NOT ON A FLIGHT PLAN. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED, AND THE TWO PASSENGERS RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE DEPARTURE POINT AND TIME HAVE NOT BEEN DETERMINED. (.23) PILOT WAS DESCENDING S. DOWNWIND TO TURN LEFT BASE WHEN THE HELICOPTER LOST ALTITUDE SUDDENLY AND CRASHED ONTO FROZEN LAKE SURFACE, SKIDDING MORE THAN 300 YDS AND SPINNING AROUND AND CAME TO REST FACING NORTH. NO MECHANICAL OR ENGINE FAILURES WERE FOUND DURING INVESTIGATION.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.