What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) The airman was receiving his scheduled part 135 checkride from an FAA inspector. A review of the videotape of the accident and witness statements indicate that after takeoff from the roof of the Hospital, the aircraft backed up and struck a tv camera on an adjaccent roof. Both pilots were aware that there was a building behind them so it is unclear why they allowed the helicopter to back up during the lift off. The procedure used, backing up, during departure is an accepted manuver if obstacles are not behind the aircraft.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) THE AIRMAN WAS RECEIVING HIS SCHEDULED PART 135 CHECKRIDE FROM AN FAA INSPECTOR. A REVIEW OF THE VIDEOTAPE OF THE ACCIDENT AND WITNESS STATEMENTS INDICATE THAT AFTER TAKEOFF FROM THE ROOF OF THE HOSPITAL, THE AIRCRAFT BACKED UP AND STRUCK A TV CAMERA ON AN ADJACCENT ROOF. BOTH PILOTS WERE AWARE THAT THERE WAS A BUILDING BEHIND THEM SO IT IS UNCLEAR WHY THEY ALLOWED THE HELICOPTER TO BACK UP DURING THE LIFT OFF. THE PROCEDURE USED, BACKING UP, DURING DEPARTURE IS AN ACCEPTED MANUVER IF OBSTACLES ARE NOT BEHIND THE AIRCRAFT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.