Radio communication between the Honolulu air traffic control tower and the pilot of the helicopter that crashed in Pearl Harbor on Thursday morning suggest that whatever went wrong happened quickly.

At 10:22 a.m., according to a recording of the air traffic control conversations provided by liveATC.net, the pilot tells the controller he is near the south ramp at Ford Island.

Seconds later the pilot issues a distress call: “Tower. Chopper 8. I think I’m going down.”

“Chopper 8, roger. You’re east of Ford Island, right?” the controller replies.

The pilot’s response can’t be understood. The tower tries to reach the helicopter again, but there is no response.

The air traffic controller then asks another aircraft to fly toward Ford Island to see whether the pilot can spot the helicopter.