What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Part 91 flight following contour of cheat river northbound approximately 60' to 100' AGL. After navigating a RH bend in the river, pilot observed power lines spanning the river. Attempted to descend to avoid power lines due to inadequate power to go over top of power lines. Main rotor contacted lower line (telephone cable), approximately 40' to 60' above water resulting in loss of control and impact with river. Rotorcraft settled in approximately 3' to 5' of water, inverted with RH side down. There were no visibility marker balls on power lines.
As the FAA filed it
PART 91 FLIGHT FOLLOWING CONTOUR OF CHEAT RIVER NORTHBOUND APPROXIMATELY 60' TO 100' AGL. AFTER NAVIGATING A RH BEND IN THE RIVER, PILOT OBSERVED POWER LINES SPANNING THE RIVER. ATTEMPTED TO DESCEND TO AVOID POWER LINES DUE TO INADEQUATE POWER TO GO OVER TOP OF POWER LINES. MAIN ROTOR CONTACTED LOWER LINE (TELEPHONE CABLE), APPROXIMATELY 40' TO 60' ABOVE WATER RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND IMPACT WITH RIVER. ROTORCRAFT SETTLED IN APPROXIMATELY 3' TO 5' OF WATER, INVERTED WITH RH SIDE DOWN. THERE WERE NO VISIBILITY MARKER BALLS ON POWER LINES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.