Incident Overview
A helicopter engaged in aerial survey operations of wild fires at night struck the ground while executing an approach to a grass landing zone. The pilot had been circling the area at an indicated altitude of 1,000 feet msl for approximately 25 minutes before initiating the descent.
Environmental Conditions
Visibility around the location was hindered by smoke emanating from the fires. The pilot described the remote area as very dark with minimal lighting.
Approach and Impact
As the helicopter descended, a passenger called out altitudes at 50-foot intervals, which the pilot verified. Shortly after the passenger announced 450 feet, the helicopter contacted the ground while moving at 35 knots. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical issues or component failures with the helicopter.
Pilot Statement
In a post-accident interview, the pilot disclosed that the altimeter setting was approximately 300 feet in error. No further details were provided regarding the cause of the discrepancy.