What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Final summary
During the investigation, the airman had limited helicopter pilot in command experience
And only showed 20.9 hours of solo time in N650AG. The airman was not authorized to
Carry passengers in his helicopter, as he was not rated in category and class for rotorcraft
Helicopters. The airman did have a solo endorsement to operate the helicopter without passengers. This inspector's opinion is that a combination of low-level flying, well below
100 Feet AGL, high airspeeds exceeding 100KNOTS, and limited helicopter experience, ultimately that led to the helicopter wire strike induced by pilot error led to the demise of the
Pilot and passenger. This is despite flying over the same powerlines, 7 minutes earlier, at an altitude of 400 feet AGL.
As the FAA filed it
FINAL SUMMARY
DURING THE INVESTIGATION, THE AIRMAN HAD LIMITED HELICOPTER PILOT IN COMMAND EXPERIENCE
AND ONLY SHOWED 20.9 HOURS OF SOLO TIME IN N650AG. THE AIRMAN WAS NOT AUTHORIZED TO
CARRY PASSENGERS IN HIS HELICOPTER, AS HE WAS NOT RATED IN CATEGORY AND CLASS FOR ROTORCRAFT
HELICOPTERS. THE AIRMAN DID HAVE A SOLO ENDORSEMENT TO OPERATE THE HELICOPTER WITHOUT PASSENGERS. THIS INSPECTOR'S OPINION IS THAT A COMBINATION OF LOW-LEVEL FLYING, WELL BELOW
100 FEET AGL, HIGH AIRSPEEDS EXCEEDING 100KNOTS, AND LIMITED HELICOPTER EXPERIENCE, ULTIMATELY THAT LED TO THE HELICOPTER WIRE STRIKE INDUCED BY PILOT ERROR LED TO THE DEMISE OF THE
PILOT AND PASSENGER. THIS IS DESPITE FLYING OVER THE SAME POWERLINES, 7 MINUTES EARLIER, AT AN ALTITUDE OF 400 FEET AGL.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.