What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On July 4, 2008, at about 1820 CDT, at Wedron, Illinois, privacy data omitted was pilot-in-command of Robinson R-44, N31138, providing a sight-seeing flight with 3 passengers. Shortly after takeoff he encountered the fox river and began a flight over the riiver at an altitude that caused the helicopter to strike power lines that crossed the river. The pilot lost aircraft control, yet managed to land the helicopter in about 5 feet of water. The helicopter sustained substantial damage and became mostly submerged. All aboard were able to swim to shore and only one passenger sustained injury, the being a minor burn.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON JULY 4, 2008, AT ABOUT 1820 CDT, AT WEDRON, ILLINOIS, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS PILOT-IN-COMMAND OF ROBINSON R-44, N31138, PROVIDING A SIGHT-SEEING FLIGHT WITH 3 PASSENGERS. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF HE ENCOUNTERED THE FOX RIVER AND BEGAN A FLIGHT OVER THE RIIVER AT AN ALTITUDE THAT CAUSED THE HELICOPTER TO STRIKE POWER LINES THAT CROSSED THE RIVER. THE PILOT LOST AIRCRAFT CONTROL, YET MANAGED TO LAND THE HELICOPTER IN ABOUT 5 FEET OF WATER. THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND BECAME MOSTLY SUBMERGED. ALL ABOARD WERE ABLE TO SWIM TO SHORE AND ONLY ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURY, THE BEING A MINOR BURN.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.