What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Witnesses observed helicopter enter the area flying north over the agricultural fields and towards the power lines. One witness stated the helicopter flew straight through the wires, and drop. No sparks or fire were observed at the time of the accident. Witness statements show that no evasive maneuvering was taken to avoid the wire strike.
On site examination revealed one single shield wire was struck and cut by the helicopter. Evidence and witness statements suggest that the aircraft flew between the shield wires and the tranmission lines that were strung below. Aircraft altitude was estimated to be 75 feet AGL. Witness statements further indicate that the aircraft had not begun to spray the field at the time of the wire strike and had just flown into the area.
As the FAA filed it
WITNESSES OBSERVED HELICOPTER ENTER THE AREA FLYING NORTH OVER THE AGRICULTURAL FIELDS AND TOWARDS THE POWER LINES. ONE WITNESS STATED THE HELICOPTER FLEW STRAIGHT THROUGH THE WIRES, AND DROP. NO SPARKS OR FIRE WERE OBSERVED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. WITNESS STATEMENTS SHOW THAT NO EVASIVE MANEUVERING WAS TAKEN TO AVOID THE WIRE STRIKE.
ON SITE EXAMINATION REVEALED ONE SINGLE SHIELD WIRE WAS STRUCK AND CUT BY THE HELICOPTER. EVIDENCE AND WITNESS STATEMENTS SUGGEST THAT THE AIRCRAFT FLEW BETWEEN THE SHIELD WIRES AND THE TRANMISSION LINES THAT WERE STRUNG BELOW. AIRCRAFT ALTITUDE WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 75 FEET AGL. WITNESS STATEMENTS FURTHER INDICATE THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD NOT BEGUN TO SPRAY THE FIELD AT THE TIME OF THE WIRE STRIKE AND HAD JUST FLOWN INTO THE AREA.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.