What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot had dropped checks at local bank and picked up one passenger. He then proceeded to airport and fueled aircraft. Passenger called his mother and indicated they would make a low level pass over the house. Approximately 1/2 mile from house, helicopter collided with power lines at 110 foot. Helicopter crashed, both occupants killed, and helicopter destroyed by post crash fire. Witnesses indicated that pilot often flew low level in that area. Accident occurred at near dusk. Low light conditions and fall foliage could have contributed to the pilot failing to see the wires.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT HAD DROPPED CHECKS AT LOCAL BANK AND PICKED UP ONE PASSENGER. HE THEN PROCEEDED TO AIRPORT AND FUELED AIRCRAFT. PASSENGER CALLED HIS MOTHER AND INDICATED THEY WOULD MAKE A LOW LEVEL PASS OVER THE HOUSE. APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE FROM HOUSE, HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES AT 110 FOOT. HELICOPTER CRASHED, BOTH OCCUPANTS KILLED, AND HELICOPTER DESTROYED BY POST CRASH FIRE. WITNESSES INDICATED THAT PILOT OFTEN FLEW LOW LEVEL IN THAT AREA. ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT NEAR DUSK. LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS AND FALL FOLIAGE COULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE PILOT FAILING TO SEE THE WIRES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.