Incident Overview
A helicopter flight tasked with transporting ski guides to the top of a 13,000 ft mountain ridge encountered difficulty during the landing approach. The pilot reported moderate to high winds at the time of the flight.
Approach and Encounter
The pilot approached the intended landing area from the lee side of the ridge at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the ridgeline. During what was described as a normal approach, the helicopter encountered a severe downdraft about 50 feet short of the intended landing spot. The descent rate increased beyond the helicopter's capability to arrest.
Evasive Maneuver and Descent
In response, the pilot initiated a pedal turn to move the helicopter away from the ridgeline. Despite this action, the helicopter continued to settle. It made contact with the terrain while heading almost directly downhill.
Post-Contact Event
After contacting the ground, the helicopter slid approximately 50 to 75 feet down a slope estimated at 10 to 15 degrees. The sliding stopped when the right skid contacted rocks located beneath the snow, bringing the helicopter to a halt.
Inspection and Damage
The helicopter was initially inspected for obvious damage at the site. The passengers were offloaded, and the helicopter was subsequently flown back to Marble, Colorado. During a more thorough examination, maintenance personnel discovered damage to the box beam doubler.