What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Helicopter crashed resulting in one pilot sustaining fractured vertebra and causing substantial damage to the aircraft. Pilot's statements indicate that dual flight instruction was being given, that the student had completed a steep approach, and while hovering, the aircraft made an uncommanded drop to the ground from approximately 10 feet. No malfunction of the helicopter systems were reported by the pilots nor were any found during the investigation.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) HELICOPTER CRASHED RESULTING IN ONE PILOT SUSTAINING FRACTURED VERTEBRA AND CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. PILOT'S STATEMENTS INDICATE THAT DUAL FLIGHT INSTRUCTION WAS BEING GIVEN, THAT THE STUDENT HAD COMPLETED A STEEP APPROACH, AND WHILE HOVERING, THE AIRCRAFT MADE AN UNCOMMANDED DROP TO THE GROUND FROM APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET. NO MALFUNCTION OF THE HELICOPTER SYSTEMS WERE REPORTED BY THE PILOTS NOR WERE ANY FOUND DURING THE 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.