What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
A witness, who was located about 3/4 mile southeast of the accident site reported that she was inside her residence when she heard the helicopter overflying her location and went to a nearby window to look. She stated that while looking to the north-northwest, she observed the helicopter flying low over the buttes from left to right. She stated that the helicopter then began to gain altitude, and something came off it, after which it descended out of her line of sight.
The tail rotor assembly was found approxiametly 100 yards from the main wreckage and displayed evidence of contact from a main rotor blade.
This narrative may be amended at a future date if additional items are discovered.
As the FAA filed it
A WITNESS, WHO WAS LOCATED ABOUT 3/4 MILE SOUTHEAST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE REPORTED THAT SHE WAS INSIDE HER RESIDENCE WHEN SHE HEARD THE HELICOPTER OVERFLYING HER LOCATION AND WENT TO A NEARBY WINDOW TO LOOK. SHE STATED THAT WHILE LOOKING TO THE NORTH-NORTHWEST, SHE OBSERVED THE HELICOPTER FLYING LOW OVER THE BUTTES FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. SHE STATED THAT THE HELICOPTER THEN BEGAN TO GAIN ALTITUDE, AND SOMETHING CAME OFF IT, AFTER WHICH IT DESCENDED OUT OF HER LINE OF SIGHT.
THE TAIL ROTOR ASSEMBLY WAS FOUND APPROXIAMETLY 100 YARDS FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE AND DISPLAYED EVIDENCE OF CONTACT FROM A MAIN ROTOR BLADE.
THIS NARRATIVE MAY BE AMENDED AT A FUTURE DATE IF ADDITIONAL ITEMS ARE DISCOVERED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.