What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Helicopter N8768F was on a flight departing from shreveport, la to destination jacksonville, TX, distance of approximately 85 NM. Aircraft was heading north on highway 69 approximately 5 mi south of Rusk, Texas. According to eyewitness statements aircraft was at normal altitude traveling north on highway 69 when it abruptly descended, at the bottom of autorotation descent struck set of power lines, cutting two wires, impacted ground approximately 50 ft north of wire strike point. Aircraft impacted terrain nose down and came to rest 10 ft from impact area. Pilot was fatally injured. Debris was scattered over approximately 80 ft diameter. No fuel was found in fuel tank, no fuel was spilled in area. No post crash fire.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) HELICOPTER N8768F WAS ON A FLIGHT DEPARTING FROM SHREVEPORT, LA TO DESTINATION JACKSONVILLE, TX, DISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 85 NM. AIRCRAFT WAS HEADING NORTH ON HIGHWAY 69 APPROXIMATELY 5 MI SOUTH OF RUSK, TEXAS. ACCORDING TO EYEWITNESS STATEMENTS AIRCRAFT WAS AT NORMAL ALTITUDE TRAVELING NORTH ON HIGHWAY 69 WHEN IT ABRUPTLY DESCENDED, AT THE BOTTOM OF AUTOROTATION DESCENT STRUCK SET OF POWER LINES, CUTTING TWO WIRES, IMPACTED GROUND APPROXIMATELY 50 FT NORTH OF WIRE STRIKE POINT. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED TERRAIN NOSE DOWN AND CAME TO REST 10 FT FROM IMPACT AREA. PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED. DEBRIS WAS SCATTERED OVER APPROXIMATELY 80 FT DIAMETER. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN FUEL TANK, NO FUEL WAS SPILLED IN AREA. NO POST CRASH FIRE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.