What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Aircraft was operated by helicopter services inc. and was hired to provide support for aerial photography. Aircraft refueled at Baytown Airport and returned to pipeyard to continue photography. Witness reports indicate that aircraft was manuvering normally one moment and the next was decending with a spinning motion. Aircraft impacted level with a high rate of decent. There was a post crash fire which destroyed the aircraft, pilot and passenger were found in the aircraft. Review of engine overhaul records and post crash engine teardown noted no irregularities aircraft was destroyed in post crash fire, unable to determine if there were any mechanical irregularities. Witness statements idicate a possible loss of control of aircraft, unable to determine if loss of control was caused by airman competance or mechanical failure.
As the FAA filed it
AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATED BY HELICOPTER SERVICES INC. AND WAS HIRED TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY. AIRCRAFT REFUELED AT BAYTOWN AIRPORT AND RETURNED TO PIPEYARD TO CONTINUE PHOTOGRAPHY. WITNESS REPORTS INDICATE THAT AIRCRAFT WAS MANUVERING NORMALLY ONE MOMENT AND THE NEXT WAS DECENDING WITH A SPINNING MOTION. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED LEVEL WITH A HIGH RATE OF DECENT. THERE WAS A POST CRASH FIRE WHICH DESTROYED THE AIRCRAFT, PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE FOUND IN THE AIRCRAFT. REVIEW OF ENGINE OVERHAUL RECORDS AND POST CRASH ENGINE TEARDOWN NOTED NO IRREGULARITIES AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED IN POST CRASH FIRE, UNABLE TO DETERMINE IF THERE WERE ANY MECHANICAL IRREGULARITIES. WITNESS STATEMENTS IDICATE A POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL OF AIRCRAFT, UNABLE TO DETERMINE IF LOSS OF CONTROL WAS CAUSED BY AIRMAN COMPETANCE OR MECHANICAL FAILURE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.