Accident Details
At 0958 Pacific Daylight Time, a helicopter departed from Fullerton, California (elevation 96 feet) on a flight to Big Bear, California (elevation 6750 feet). There was no record of the pilot obtaining a weather briefing.
Approximately 1015, a witness observed the helicopter circling above the bottom of 'an early morning fog hanging over the ground at approximately 300 ft.' After circling for about 3 to 5 minutes, the helicopter began to fly south when it suddenly was observed flying out of the fog at a steep angle toward the ground. The helicopter was angled nose down with a slight roll to the left.
Subsequently, the helicopter crashed in a tail-low, left-bank attitude. The engine was reported to be operating at a high power setting until the helicopter crashed and burned.
Examination and Weather
No preimpact part failure or malfunction was found. There was evidence of low rotor RPM, that the cyclic control was full aft, and that the collective was full down at impact.
Approximately 4 miles east, the weather at 1019 was, in part: sky partially obscured, 1000-foot overcast, visibility 3/4 mile with fog.