What happened
The aircraft was dispatched to perform an emergency medical service mission, tasked with transporting a patient suffering from subcranial bleeding back to a hospital in Winston-Salem. Before takeoff, the pilot received a weather briefing indicating that widespread instrument meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area, and visual flight rules flight was not recommended.
While en route to the destination, the pilot climbed the aircraft to an altitude of 4,500 feet mean sea level. In the final transmission made to hospital dispatch, the helicopter was reported to be approximately 12 miles from Galax. A witness in the vicinity heard the sound of a helicopter that ceased abruptly with a thud upon impact.
The witness looked toward the noise but could not see any wreckage due to dense fog. The debris field was located approximately 10 miles southeast of Galax. The aircraft had impacted just below the top of a mountain ridge at an elevation of about 3,500 feet. Evidence indicated the helicopter was in a right bank of approximately 20 degrees at the time of the crash.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and the surrounding terrain to determine the cause of the accident. They looked for signs of mechanical issues that might have contributed to the loss of control or inability to maintain altitude.
No preimpact part failure or malfunction was found during the investigation. The absence of mechanical defects suggested that the accident was likely related to operational factors, specifically the decision to fly in conditions that exceeded visual flight rules limitations.