What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On December 5, 2025, at approximately 0900, a Hughes 369D helicopter was hovering over a tree line while performing observer duties for powerline workers.
According to eyewitnesses, two powerline workers were stationed on powerlines running parallel to the tree line that the helicopter was hovering over. Witnesses stated that the helicopter was at an altitude above the height of the powerline towers. Thirty to forty-five seconds after the helicopter pilot acknowledged over the radio that it was clear to reposition, the helicopter's nose pitched up abruptly and performed a loop and roll before impacting the ground in a nose down attitude fatalily injuring the pilot. Weather conditions at the time were low ceilings with reduced visibility, light winds. There was no post crash fire.
As the FAA filed it
ON DECEMBER 5, 2025, AT APPROXIMATELY 0900, A HUGHES 369D HELICOPTER WAS HOVERING OVER A TREE LINE WHILE PERFORMING OBSERVER DUTIES FOR POWERLINE WORKERS.
ACCORDING TO EYEWITNESSES, TWO POWERLINE WORKERS WERE STATIONED ON POWERLINES RUNNING PARALLEL TO THE TREE LINE THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS HOVERING OVER. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS AT AN ALTITUDE ABOVE THE HEIGHT OF THE POWERLINE TOWERS. THIRTY TO FORTY-FIVE SECONDS AFTER THE HELICOPTER PILOT ACKNOWLEDGED OVER THE RADIO THAT IT WAS CLEAR TO REPOSITION, THE HELICOPTER'S NOSE PITCHED UP ABRUPTLY AND PERFORMED A LOOP AND ROLL BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE FATALILY INJURING THE PILOT. WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE TIME WERE LOW CEILINGS WITH REDUCED VISIBILITY, LIGHT WINDS. THERE WAS NO POST CRASH FIRE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.