What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On April 28, 2021, about 1324 eastern standard time, a Bell 429 helicopter, N53DE, operated by privacy data omitted a part 91 company, privacy data omitted was totally destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Eden, north carolina. The commercial pilot was fatally injured, and two passengers were seriously injured. The helicopter was operated as a title 14 code of federal regulations part 91 powerline patrol.
From witness statements the helicopter was flying erratically and low to the tree line prior to the accident. Witnesses from both outside the helicopter and inside the helicopter heard a loud pop and the aircraft went into a steep right bank and steep nose down when it descended vertically into the tree line. NTSB is still investigating.
As the FAA filed it
ON APRIL 28, 2021, ABOUT 1324 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, A BELL 429 HELICOPTER, N53DE, OPERATED BY ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ A PART 91 COMPANY, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED WHEN IT WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT NEAR EDEN, NORTH CAROLINA. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED, AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE HELICOPTER WAS OPERATED AS A TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 POWERLINE PATROL.
FROM WITNESS STATEMENTS THE HELICOPTER WAS FLYING ERRATICALLY AND LOW TO THE TREE LINE PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. WITNESSES FROM BOTH OUTSIDE THE HELICOPTER AND INSIDE THE HELICOPTER HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE AIRCRAFT WENT INTO A STEEP RIGHT BANK AND STEEP NOSE DOWN WHEN IT DESCENDED VERTICALLY INTO THE TREE LINE. NTSB IS STILL INVESTIGATING.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.