Incident Overview
A pilot reported that a helicopter he was operating made a hard landing on Highway 395 near Loon Lake, approximately 30 miles southeast of Colville, Washington. The pilot stated that the landing occurred after the helicopter flew into heavy snow showers and experienced a high rate of descent.
Flight Departure and Weather Briefing
The pilot indicated that the flight originated in Colville, where the weather was mostly clear with visibility exceeding 10 miles. Prior to departing from Spokane, the pilot obtained a weather briefing through the Data Transmission Network (DTN).
Encounter with Snow Showers
As the helicopter approached the area around Loon Lake, the pilot reported encountering heavy snow showers. The aviation area forecast (FA) valid for the time of the incident, issued at 1945 PST on December 17, had predicted widely scattered snow showers east of the Cascade Range, including northeastern Washington.
Pilot Actions and Landing
The pilot stated that he attempted to slow the helicopter and either turn around or perform a precautionary landing on a road (Highway 395). During these efforts, the helicopter entered a high rate of descent. The pilot subsequently executed a hard landing on Highway 395 in conditions he described as a complete whiteout.