Accident Overview
A helicopter was conducting a cross-country flight over mountainous terrain when it impacted the side of a mountain at an elevation of 6,800 feet, approximately 90 feet below the crest. The impact sequence began with the tail rotor striking the mountainside. Wreckage was dispersed downslope to about the 6,500-foot level.
Investigation Findings
Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of pre-impact flight control malfunction, airframe failure, or system failure. The engine was tested after the accident and performed within manufacturer specifications and certification standards.
Performance Calculations
Investigators calculated the density altitude at the accident site using a pressure altitude of 6,800 feet and an estimated temperature of 85 degrees Fahrenheit, resulting in a density altitude of 9,900 feet. The helicopter's gross weight at the time of the accident was calculated to be 1,229 pounds. For that density altitude, the maximum gross weight for out-of-ground effect hover performance was determined to be 1,210 pounds.
Pilot and Witness Information
The pilot had no memory of the accident. There were no witnesses, and the phase of operation at the time of impact is unknown.