What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) The Hughes "500" helicopter, model HU-369-D, owned and operated by southern California edison, was performing routine powerline patrol on the "rainbow 16" distribution lines, which run in a general north/south direction (150/330 degrees actual, as measured at the area of impact) in an area known as coyote canyon, near Somis, California. The helicopter struck the "moorpark RTS48 66KW" transmission lines, which intersect with and are above the rainbow 16 lines, running in a generally east/west direction (070/250 degrees actual, as measured at the area of impact). Helicopter suffered catastrophic damage to the rotor blades, boom, and tail section. The two occupants, the pilot and "troubleman" (observer), were fatally injured.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) THE HUGHES "500" HELICOPTER, MODEL HU-369-D, OWNED AND OPERATED BY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON, WAS PERFORMING ROUTINE POWERLINE PATROL ON THE "RAINBOW 16" DISTRIBUTION LINES, WHICH RUN IN A GENERAL NORTH/SOUTH DIRECTION (150/330 DEGREES ACTUAL, AS MEASURED AT THE AREA OF IMPACT) IN AN AREA KNOWN AS COYOTE CANYON, NEAR SOMIS, CALIFORNIA. THE HELICOPTER STRUCK THE "MOORPARK RTS48 66KW" TRANSMISSION LINES, WHICH INTERSECT WITH AND ARE ABOVE THE RAINBOW 16 LINES, RUNNING IN A GENERALLY EAST/WEST DIRECTION (070/250 DEGREES ACTUAL, AS MEASURED AT THE AREA OF IMPACT). HELICOPTER SUFFERED CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO THE ROTOR BLADES, BOOM, AND TAIL SECTION. THE TWO OCCUPANTS, THE PILOT AND "TROUBLEMAN" (OBSERVER), WERE FATALLY INJURED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N812CE · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.