I don't believe there is anything to indicate the machine was operating in anything other than Restricted Category. The Owner of the helicopter was one of the individuals killed in this accident, which may well include him as a Crewmember for whatever type of operation they were engaged in, and presumably certified for. Restricted Category allows for many types of legitimate operation, especially when performing that function in a non-commercial (i.e.: private) operation. Very sad and will be interesting to see the investigation report as to what exactly happened. RIP.
For reference:
Special Airworthiness Certificate
Restricted Category
A restricted category special airworthiness certificate is issued to operate aircraft that have been type certificated in the restricted category. Operation of restricted category aircraft is limited to special purposes identified in the applicable type design. These special purpose operations include the following:
Agricultural (spraying, dusting, seeding, and livestock and predatory animal control).
Forest and wildlife conservation.
Aerial surveying (photography, mapping, and oil and mineral exploration).
Patrolling (pipe lines, power lines, and canals).
Weather control (cloud seeding).
Aerial advertising (skywriting, banner towing, airborne signs, and public address systems).
Any other operation specified by the Administrator. (My emphasis)
§91.313 Restricted category civil aircraft: Operating limitations.
(a) No person may operate a restricted category civil aircraft—
(1) For other than the special purpose for which it is certificated; or
(2) In an operation other than one necessary to accomplish the work activity directly associated with that special purpose.
(b) For the purpose of paragraph (a) of this section, operating a restricted category civil aircraft to provide flight crewmember training in a special purpose operation for which the aircraft is certificated is considered to be an operation for that special purpose.
(c) No person may operate a restricted category civil aircraft carrying persons or property for compensation or hire. For the purposes of this paragraph, a special purpose operation involving the carriage of persons or material necessary to accomplish that operation, such as crop dusting, seeding, spraying, and banner towing (including the carrying of required persons or material to the location of that operation), and operation for the purpose of providing flight crewmember training in a special purpose operation, are not considered to be the carriage of persons or property for compensation or hire.
(d) No person may be carried on a restricted category civil aircraft unless that person—
(1) Is a flight crewmember;
(2) Is a flight crewmember trainee;
(3) Performs an essential function in connection with a special purpose operation for which the aircraft is certificated; or
(4) Is necessary to accomplish the work activity directly associated with that special purpose.
(e) Except when operating in accordance with the terms and conditions of a certificate of waiver or special operating limitations issued by the Administrator, no person may operate a restricted category civil aircraft within the United States—
(1) Over a densely populated area;
(2) In a congested airway; or
(3) Near a busy airport where passenger transport operations are conducted.
(f) This section does not apply to nonpassenger-carrying civil rotorcraft external-load operations conducted under part 133 of this chapter.
(g) No person may operate a small restricted-category civil airplane manufactured after July 18, 1978, unless an approved shoulder harness or restraint system is installed for each front seat. The shoulder harness or restraint system installation at each flightcrew station must permit the flightcrew member, when seated and with the safety belt and shoulder harness fastened or the restraint system engaged, to perform all functions necessary for flight operation. For purposes of this paragraph—
(1) The date of manufacture of an airplane is the date the inspection acceptance records reflect that the airplane is complete and meets the FAA-approved type design data; and
(2) A front seat is a seat located at a flight crewmember station or any seat located alongside such a seat.