Incident Overview
At 0030, a commercial helicopter pilot/owner received a request from local authorities to assist in an official law enforcement search mission. The pilot and a passenger departed from the airport and arrived on scene at approximately 0155, after a 20-minute flight.
Sequence of Events
Upon arrival, a Deputy climbed into the helicopter to serve as the spotter during the search. With three people on board, the helicopter climbed to about 5 feet in altitude, landed, and the passenger exited. The helicopter then took off and executed a climbing turn downwind, reaching about 150 feet in altitude. Witnesses reported that the helicopter dropped nearly straight down into a wooded area.
Post-Accident Observations
Minutes after the accident, when EMT personnel and another Deputy arrived at the crash site, the rotor blades were stopped, but the engine was still running. Examination of the wreckage revealed no mechanical anomalies with the engine or airframe.