What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Air ambulance helicopter was on helipad (OK19) for approximately 2 days in wintry conditions, snow, sleet and rain without engine inlet covers. Helicopter took off for flight at 0538 and crashed approximately three and a half minutes into flight. Eyewitness's saw a flash in the sky then watched as the aircraft started descending until it crashed. Helicopter caught fire on impact. Pilot and flight nurse did not survive, eyewitness's rescued flight paramedic. Appears that helicopter was not under engine power on impact. Engine was sent to manufacturer by NTSB for teardown at future date.
As the FAA filed it
AIR AMBULANCE HELICOPTER WAS ON HELIPAD (OK19) FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 DAYS IN WINTRY CONDITIONS, SNOW, SLEET AND RAIN WITHOUT ENGINE INLET COVERS. HELICOPTER TOOK OFF FOR FLIGHT AT 0538 AND CRASHED APPROXIMATELY THREE AND A HALF MINUTES INTO FLIGHT. EYEWITNESS'S SAW A FLASH IN THE SKY THEN WATCHED AS THE AIRCRAFT STARTED DESCENDING UNTIL IT CRASHED. HELICOPTER CAUGHT FIRE ON IMPACT. PILOT AND FLIGHT NURSE DID NOT SURVIVE, EYEWITNESS'S RESCUED FLIGHT PARAMEDIC. APPEARS THAT HELICOPTER WAS NOT UNDER ENGINE POWER ON IMPACT. ENGINE WAS SENT TO MANUFACTURER BY NTSB FOR TEARDOWN AT FUTURE DATE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.