Incident Description
During a flight to an airport experiencing instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions, a helicopter piloted by a noninstrument-rated pilot struck an oak tree while maneuvering to align with the runway. Following the collision, the pilot executed an emergency landing in a nearby field.
Pilot and Passenger Accounts
The pilot reported obtaining a weather briefing via computer before departure. Upon nearing the destination, the pilot was informed that the airport was under IFR conditions and subsequently requested and received a special visual flight rules (SVFR) clearance to continue the approach.
The passenger stated that the pilot did not reset the altimeter at any point during the flight. According to the passenger, at the moment the helicopter contacted the trees, the altimeter displayed approximately 480 feet. The elevation of Savannah Airport is 51 feet.