What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) In the pilot's statement, Mr. Fife indicated that while hovering the helicopter below the tree line, all was fine. Once he had increased his hovering altitude a gust of wind blew the helicopter toward a wooded area. He was unable to control the helicopter fast enough, therefore the helicopter was tossed into the trees. As the rotorblades hit the trees Mr. Fife turned off the power. The helicopter landed and got hung up on some trees and vines, crashing into the ground upside down.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) IN THE PILOT'S STATEMENT, MR. FIFE INDICATED THAT WHILE HOVERING THE HELICOPTER BELOW THE TREE LINE, ALL WAS FINE. ONCE HE HAD INCREASED HIS HOVERING ALTITUDE A GUST OF WIND BLEW THE HELICOPTER TOWARD A WOODED AREA. HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE HELICOPTER FAST ENOUGH, THEREFORE THE HELICOPTER WAS TOSSED INTO THE TREES. AS THE ROTORBLADES HIT THE TREES MR. FIFE TURNED OFF THE POWER. THE HELICOPTER LANDED AND GOT HUNG UP ON SOME TREES AND VINES, CRASHING INTO THE GROUND UPSIDE DOWN.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.