Accident Overview
A helicopter operating an emergency medical flight collided with the side of a mountain during a turn after departing from a hospital helipad. The aircraft was en route to pick up a medical team to care for a critically ill child.
Pilot Notification and Weather Concerns
The pilot was notified by the dispatcher at 0510. After checking the weather, the pilot called back and stated that if they wanted to try it, there would be no guarantee. The dispatcher relayed that the medical center indicated a great need to go. Prior to departure, the pilot was heard to say, "I feel really uncomfortable about this flight."
Witness Observations
A witness reported that the pilot had been rotating the rotors outside for a long time and would lift off the pad and then set it back down.
Pilot Duty and Rest History
From 0700 on May 7 to 0545 on May 11, the pilot was either on duty with the National Guard, at the hospital, flying, or going to school for a total of about 74 hours during a period of about 95 hours. The average rest during this period would have been about 5 hours.
Altimeter Setting Discrepancy
The altimeter setting given to the pilot by approach control was 29.69. The pilot's altimeter was found set at 29.80, which would cause the aircraft to be 100 feet lower than indicated.
Investigation Outcomes
The accident investigation determined that the helicopter struck the mountain during a turn. No probable cause was stated in the source.