What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot had left maintenance facility in broussard, LA enroute back to beaumont, TX. Approximately 25 minutes after departure, the helicopter struck the guide wire of a tower approximately 18 miles south of Crowley, LA. Eyewitness was a tower worker who was on the tower working approximately 250 ft. up the tower and saw the helicoter heading straight for the tower. Witness stated that at the last minute, the pilot saw the tower and pitched up and left, but struck one of the guide wires coming off the tower. The guide wire cut through the helicopter's nose section, main rotor section, and the tail section. The main rotor blades departed the helicopter along with the entire tail rotor section and came to rest approximately 300 yards beyond the tower.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT HAD LEFT MAINTENANCE FACILITY IN BROUSSARD, LA ENROUTE BACK TO BEAUMONT, TX. APPROXIMATELY 25 MINUTES AFTER DEPARTURE, THE HELICOPTER STRUCK THE GUIDE WIRE OF A TOWER APPROXIMATELY 18 MILES SOUTH OF CROWLEY, LA. EYEWITNESS WAS A TOWER WORKER WHO WAS ON THE TOWER WORKING APPROXIMATELY 250 FT. UP THE TOWER AND SAW THE HELICOTER HEADING STRAIGHT FOR THE TOWER. WITNESS STATED THAT AT THE LAST MINUTE, THE PILOT SAW THE TOWER AND PITCHED UP AND LEFT, BUT STRUCK ONE OF THE GUIDE WIRES COMING OFF THE TOWER. THE GUIDE WIRE CUT THROUGH THE HELICOPTER'S NOSE SECTION, MAIN ROTOR SECTION, AND THE TAIL SECTION. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES DEPARTED THE HELICOPTER ALONG WITH THE ENTIRE TAIL ROTOR SECTION AND CAME TO REST APPROXIMATELY 300 YARDS BEYOND THE TOWER.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.