What happened
Three helicopters departed on an on-demand, for-hire aerial sightseeing tour intended to circumnavigate a mountainous island area and visit an extinct volcanic crater. The aircraft departed approximately two minutes apart. The pilot of the accident helicopter was flying in trail behind the company's chief pilot and second most experienced pilot.
As the flight progressed toward the Waialeale crater viewpoint, the lead pilots encountered heavy rain showers and lowering ceilings and visibilities. While attempting to follow the lead aircraft, the pilot failed to observe the valley entrance to the crater and flew past it. The pilot subsequently encountered heavy intensity rain showers, reduced visibility, and lowering ceilings.
During this period, the pilot became disoriented and misjudged his location. While cruising toward what he believed was the prescribed crater entranceway, the aircraft inadvertently entered instrument meteorological conditions. Just prior to the collision, the pilot radioed the lead pilots to report that the weather was worsening and visibility was lost. Although the second pilot ahead provided a suggested heading intended to steer the aircraft away from the terrain, the helicopter impacted an 80-degree upsloping mountain face on a heading nearly opposite to the suggestion. The impact occurred 200 feet below the ridge crest.
Approximately 30 to 45 minutes after the accident, another pilot from the operator reported receiving an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal. That pilot searched the general area but could not locate the wreckage due to low cloud cover.