Accident Overview
On a night operation, a helicopter (registration N16933) was one of four helicopters used to transport a concert group from a golf course area near Elkhorn, Wisconsin, to Chicago, Illinois. As the third helicopter departed, it remained at a lower altitude than the others, and the pilot turned southeasterly toward rising terrain. The helicopter subsequently crashed on hilly terrain approximately three-fifths of a mile from the takeoff point. The elevation of the crash site was about 100 feet above the golf course and 50 feet below the summit of the hill.
Flight Details
No preimpact part failure or malfunction was found during the investigation. The helicopter was operating at night, and the pilot had turned toward higher terrain after departure. The crash site was located on a hillside, with the helicopter coming to rest below the summit.
Weather Conditions
Pilots of the other helicopters reported visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with some fog. A ground witness near the crash site reported haze and ground fog of varying intensity with patches of low clouds, but noted that stars could be seen through the fog.
Investigation
The investigation found no evidence of mechanical failure or malfunction before impact. The helicopter's flight path involved a turn toward rising terrain while maintaining a lower altitude than the other helicopters in the group.