The FAA sent me a DVD of audio from SoCal Arrival on 134.2 that I obtained by submitting a Freedom of Information Act request, and I have time aligned it with my crash reconstruction of N72EX.
Here is my video:
Here is my take of the transcript
Pilot: [17:40:06] SoCal, Helicopter 7 2 Echo X-Ray with you transitioning in VFR conditions at one thousand five hundred to Camarillo.
Controller1: [17:40:17] Helicopter 7 2 Echo X-Ray SaCal Approach, Roger. You just going to stay down low at that, for all the way to Camarillo?
Pilot: [17:40:23] Yes sir, low altitude, 2 Echo X-Ray.
Controller1: [17:40:26] 2 Echo X-Ray, Roger. I'm going to lose RADAR an, uh, comms with you probably pretty shortly, so you’re going to squawk VFR and, uh, when you get closer, go to Camarillo tower.
Pilot: [17:40:37] Ok, we squawk VFR, 2 Echo X-Ray
Controller1/2: [17:42:58] [Crosstalk, Probable shift change] [17:43:17]
At 17:44:30 The helicopter starts the final ascent.
Pilot: [17.44.34] SoCal for Helicopter 2 Echo X-ray, we gotta go ahead and start our climb to go above the layers and we can stay with you.
Controller2: [17:44:43] 2 Echo X-ray, where are ya?
Pilot: [17:44:46] Uh, Southwest of Van Nuys, 2 Echo X-Ray
Controller2: [17:44:53] 2 Echo X-ray, IDENT
Pilot: [17:44:55] IDENT
Controller2: [17:45:00] 2 Echo X-ray, yeah, you’re following 1200 code. Uh, are you requesting flight following?
Pilot: [17:45:04] Yes sir, 2 Echo X-ray
The final left turn and descent start around 17:45:10
Controller2: [17:45:17] 2 Echo X-ray, [inaudible], say intentions?
At 17:45:20 the helicopter is descending at more than 1000 fpm according to ADS-B. It is not climbing.
Pilot: [17:45:20] Um climbing to 4000, 2 Echo X-ray [17:45:23]
At 17:45:23 the helicopter is descending at more than 2000 fpm according to ADS-B. It is not climbing. It seems the pilot thought they were climbing when in fact they were descending.
Controller2: [17:45:24] And then what are you going to do when you get to altitude?
Crash is approximately 17:45:38
Controller2: [17:46:02] 2 Echo X-ray, you’re still too low-level for a flight following at this time.
Controller2: [17:46:26] 2 Echo X-ray, SoCal.