What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
While slowing the aircraft to do firefighting water drop operations, at approximately 100 ft AGL, due to unknown reasons, the aircraft settled and the main rotor blades contacted the surrounding trees, which caused the aircraft to rapidly descended and impacted the ground. At this time, cause of this accident could not be determined. A detailed post-accident aircraft/engine teardown inspection will be arranged by the NTSB iic and this report will be updated as necessary.
As the FAA filed it
WHILE SLOWING THE AIRCRAFT TO DO FIREFIGHTING WATER DROP OPERATIONS, AT APPROXIMATELY 100 FT AGL, DUE TO UNKNOWN REASONS, THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE SURROUNDING TREES, WHICH CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO RAPIDLY DESCENDED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. AT THIS TIME, CAUSE OF THIS ACCIDENT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. A DETAILED POST-ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT/ENGINE TEARDOWN INSPECTION WILL BE ARRANGED BY THE NTSB IIC AND THIS REPORT WILL BE UPDATED AS NECESSARY.
Other reports on N873HL · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.