Incident Overview
A helicopter operating in a wildlife management role experienced an accident while attempting to capture bighorn sheep using a net cannon. The pilot reported that the aircraft was in pursuit of a group of animals across rising terrain.
Sequence of Events
According to the pilot's account, the helicopter was following a herd of bighorn sheep up a slope at an elevation of 11,200 feet. During the pursuit, the rotor speed began to decline. The pilot attempted to execute a turn to reverse direction, but the helicopter made contact with the ground. The impact broke the right skid of the landing gear. Subsequently, the helicopter rolled onto its right side, and the main rotor blades detached from the rotor hub.
Environmental Conditions
At the time of the accident, the density altitude was calculated to be 13,068 feet. This value indicates the altitude at which the air density would correspond to standard atmospheric conditions, reflecting the reduced performance capability of the helicopter at high elevations and temperatures.