What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) The helicopter descended into potato lake for reasons yet to be determined. Investigation is ongoing. Sections 21A, 21B, 21C, 21D, 21E, 21F, 32, 39, and 42 will be amended as information becomes available. (.19) on September 27, 2001, about 1230 central daylight time, a Bell 206B-III, N56MC, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with water while maneuvering over potato lake, near park rapids, Minnesota. The aerial photography flight was operating under 14 CFR part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that he and three passengers sustained minor injuries. No flight plan was on file. The local flight departed from park rapids municipal airport, park rapids, Minnesota, at 1220 and was maneuvering at the time of the accident.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED INTO POTATO LAKE FOR REASONS YET TO BE DETERMINED. INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING. SECTIONS 21A, 21B, 21C, 21D, 21E, 21F, 32, 39, AND 42 WILL BE AMENDED AS INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE. (.19) ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2001, ABOUT 1230 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A BELL 206B-III, N56MC, PILOTED BY A COMMERCIAL PILOT, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE ON IMPACT WITH WATER WHILE MANEUVERING OVER POTATO LAKE, NEAR PARK RAPIDS, MINNESOTA. THE AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY FLIGHT WAS OPERATING UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE AND THREE PASSENGERS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS ON FILE. THE LOCAL FLIGHT DEPARTED FROM PARK RAPIDS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, PARK RAPIDS, MINNESOTA, AT 1220 AND WAS MANEUVERING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.