Accident Overview
A Bell 206B helicopter operated by a private pilot with 371 total flight hours and no instrument rating was involved in an accident near Eagle, Colorado. The pilot had received a weather briefing that included a VFR not recommended update but departed nonetheless.
Weather and Witness Reports
Witnesses along the route of flight and at the accident site reported fog, poor visibility, precipitation, low ceilings, night conditions, and snow-covered ground.
Flight Events
Initially, the pilot asked his wife to meet the helicopter at a location short of the intended destination. However, after landing briefly at a roadside site, the pilot departed again. Before departure, he instructed his passenger to relay a message to his wife, asking her to position her vehicle beneath power lines that crossed the highway leading to the destination airport.
Site Examination
Examination of the accident site revealed that the helicopter's skids had sustained extensive shattering damage. The damage was confined to a small local area associated with the initial ground impact. The terrain at the impact site was uneven.
Investigation Outcome
No probable cause was stated in the official source.