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Preliminary Report Released On Helicopter Crash Near Silt

SILT, Colo. (AP) - A preliminary report on a helicopter crash that killed three people south of Silt last week concludes the helicopter hooked a line strung to protect power lines just before it went down.

The report released Wednesday by the National Transportation Safety Board does not specify what caused the snag to occur. A final report identifying the main cause of the crash is expected within nine months.

Doug Sheffer from DBS Helicopters website
Doug Sheffer (credit: DBS Helicopters)

Authorities identified the victims as Doug Sheffer, Larry Sheffer and Christopher Gaskill.

Holy Cross Energy spokesman Stephen Casey says aerial surveying of power lines using infrared cameras to find hot spots is common.

(© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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