Rescue Mission
The pilot and observer were on a flight to rescue two duck hunters stranded in a boat stuck in ice 500 to 600 feet from shore. After removing the right door, they planned to pick up one hunter at a time on the right skid while the observer held onto him through the open door.
Maneuvering and Loss of Control
After circling in gusty winds, the pilot was able to hover at the bow of the boat. As the first hunter climbed onto the right skid, the helicopter banked right and subsequently entered a spin to the right. The pilot regained control and continued to the landing area while remaining in a constant right turn. As he entered a 5-foot hover to land, the aircraft pitched forward. The pilot pulled the collective to gain altitude, but the aircraft entered a right roll and turn, and subsequently struck several trees and crashed.
Investigation Findings
An investigation revealed that the center of gravity (CG) exceeded the forward limit by 0.33 inches and the right CG limit by 5.2 inches. The aircraft was not equipped for lateral loads, and no lateral CG limits were listed in the flight manual. Those helicopters equipped for litters (lateral loads) were rigged with additional cyclic control.