Accident Summary
An aircraft crashed during an external load operation at an elevation of about 6700 feet above mean sea level in mountainous terrain. The pilot was in the process of setting a load down when the accident occurred. The aircraft touched down on sloping ground and rolled over.
Pilot Actions
According to the pilot, the fuel gauge showed 8 gallons of fuel remaining at his last pre-accident check. He stated that he inspected his instruments prior to lowering a load into trees and observed no caution or warning lights. While setting the load onto the ground, the pilot heard the turbine RPM decay. He then maneuvered the aircraft approximately 25 feet to the right and 20 feet forward to clear nearby trees.
Aircraft Condition
An investigation found no reported malfunctions of the aircraft's engine or fuel system. No other anomalies were noted.