Originally Posted by
aa777888
We still don't know if this pilot had a medical problem (and might not ever, depending on the condition of the remains). It is hard to fathom how someone who passed a commercial pilot checkride and was operating a helicopter of that caliber could make such poor choices. It seems more likely such a pilot would happily scud run (probably legally, 1/2 mile and clear of clouds and all that, and tell me nobody here hasn't done that) and run into a sailboat mast than assertively climb into the mung, twice (at least).
A review of his information on the FAA registry indicates that he had a special issuance medical. At his age that could be for a number of things but it is something to consider. The stress he was under could have triggered a medical event.
There was very little left of the helicopter. It was quite an inferno up there and there is very little left. The only recognizable thing is a small section of tail boom. I doubt they will be able to determine much from the remains. He was essentially cremated.