Helicopter crash cause: Wasps nest

West Carthage, New York (WWNY) – Federal investigators are out with a report on the helicopter crash that killed a West Carthage businessman a week and a half ago.

The National Transportation Safety Board says it found a wasps nest clogging a fuel tube.

That’s detailed in a preliminary investigation report released by the NTSB.

The crash happened on Saturday, July 27th, in West Carthage and killed 65-year-old Gary Johnson. Johnson, the pilot, was the only person on board.

During the investigation, the NTSB says a metal fuel tank was drained with the fuel flowing sporadically.

They examined the fuel vent tube and flushed out debris said to be consistent with a mud dauber nest.

The report says the helicopter had not been flown in three weeks, according to one of Johnson’s brothers.