What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On August 8, 2020, at approximately 1209 CST, a Bell 206B helicopter bearing registration number N284S was conducting a wild animal survey approximately 47 miles southeast of Marathon, Texas near the us/mexico border. The helicopter was being operated on a business flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed. Helicopter was destroyed as a result of impact with terrain and post impact fire. There were three passenger fatalities and pilot was seriously injured. The flight originated from alpine, Texas on August 8, 2020 at approximately 0900 CDT.
During an interview on 8/27/2020 pilot stated there was also an inadvertent discharge of a weapon while conducting animal survey. It came from the left rear passenger. He confirmed the muzzle was pointed straight out and didn't think it was a contributing factor or if it hit a main rotor blade.
As the FAA filed it
ON AUGUST 8, 2020, AT APPROXIMATELY 1209 CST, A BELL 206B HELICOPTER BEARING REGISTRATION NUMBER N284S WAS CONDUCTING A WILD ANIMAL SURVEY APPROXIMATELY 47 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MARATHON, TEXAS NEAR THE US/MEXICO BORDER. THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING OPERATED ON A BUSINESS FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. HELICOPTER WAS DESTROYED AS A RESULT OF IMPACT WITH TERRAIN AND POST IMPACT FIRE. THERE WERE THREE PASSENGER FATALITIES AND PILOT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM ALPINE, TEXAS ON AUGUST 8, 2020 AT APPROXIMATELY 0900 CDT.
DURING AN INTERVIEW ON 8/27/2020 PILOT STATED THERE WAS ALSO AN INADVERTENT DISCHARGE OF A WEAPON WHILE CONDUCTING ANIMAL SURVEY. IT CAME FROM THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER. HE CONFIRMED THE MUZZLE WAS POINTED STRAIGHT OUT AND DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR OR IF IT HIT A MAIN ROTOR BLADE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.