What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The wreckage was located approximately 1/3-1/4 of a mile north of the runway, abeam the approach end of runway 13, IN a ravine surrounded by tall trees. The aircraft came straight down, which was apparent due to the lack of any tree damage other than that directly above the wreckage. This is consistent with what the witnesses told the state troopers. Very little damage existed on the leading edges of the main rotor blades, which suggests very little, if any, forward travel. The propeller blades were completely sheared off, approximately 4-6 inches from the hub, which suggests that the engine was running. Also, a few severed branches were within 40 feet of the wreckage that most likely were chopped off by the propeller blades. A post crash fire consumed the fuselage, emapanage and many external parts. The engine was destroyed.
As the FAA filed it
THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 1/3-1/4 OF A MILE NORTH OF THE RUNWAY, ABEAM THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 13, IN A RAVINE SURROUNDED BY TALL TREES.THE AIRCRAFT CAME STRAIGHT DOWN, WHICH WAS APPARENT DUE TO THE LACK OF ANY TREE DAMAGE OTHER THAN THAT DIRECTLY ABOVE THE WRECKAGE. THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE WITNESSES TOLD THE STATE TROOPERS. VERY LITTLE DAMAGE EXISTED ON THE LEADING EDGES OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES, WHICH SUGGESTS VERY LITTLE, IF ANY, FORWARD TRAVEL. THE PROPELLER BLADES WERE COMPLETELY SHEARED OFF, APPROXIMATELY 4-6 INCHES FROM THE HUB, WHICH SUGGESTS THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. ALSO, A FEW SEVERED BRANCHES WERE WITHIN 40 FEET OF THE WRECKAGE THAT MOST LIKELY WERE CHOPPED OFF BY THE PROPELLER BLADES. A POST CRASH FIRE CONSUMED THE FUSELAGE, EMAPANAGE AND MANY EXTERNAL PARTS. THE ENGINE WAS DESTROYED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.