What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Experienced fixed wing pilot in training as a student in rotorcraft helicopter on a solo flight was observed by eyewitnesses to depart the airport to the north. Between about 800-1500 feet above the ground, the witnesses described the helicopter falling tail first to the ground. Post crash investigation found evidence of the helicopter impacting the ground from a vertical descent, left skid first, slightly tail low. The main rotor and the tail rotor appeared to have not been rotating. Inspection of the engine oil filter showed evidence of copper. The last oil change was noted to be 8.6 hours before the accident flight with no copper noted. Maintenance records showed no evidence of abnormal engine operation. The engine will be examined by a team of investigators on December 13, 2007.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) EXPERIENCED FIXED WING PILOT IN TRAINING AS A STUDENT IN ROTORCRAFT HELICOPTER ON A SOLO FLIGHT WAS OBSERVED BY EYEWITNESSES TO DEPART THE AIRPORT TO THE NORTH. BETWEEN ABOUT 800-1500 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE WITNESSES DESCRIBED THE HELICOPTER FALLING TAIL FIRST TO THE GROUND. POST CRASH INVESTIGATION FOUND EVIDENCE OF THE HELICOPTER IMPACTING THE GROUND FROM A VERTICAL DESCENT, LEFT SKID FIRST, SLIGHTLY TAIL LOW. THE MAIN ROTOR AND THE TAIL ROTOR APPEARED TO HAVE NOT BEEN ROTATING. INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE OIL FILTER SHOWED EVIDENCE OF COPPER. THE LAST OIL CHANGE WAS NOTED TO BE 8.6 HOURS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT WITH NO COPPER NOTED. MAINTENANCE RECORDS SHOWED NO EVIDENCE OF ABNORMAL ENGINE OPERATION. THE ENGINE WILL BE EXAMINED BY A TEAM OF INVESTIGATORS ON DECEMBER 13, 2007.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.