What happened
Earlier on the day of the accident, the pilot used the helicopter to fly to a highway accident site to transport injured persons to a hospital. During the attempt to load the passengers, the aircraft's chin bubble sustained damage, which resulted in the cancellation of the flight; the injured individuals were instead transported by ground ambulance.
A mechanic was sent to the site and encountered moderate rain and gusty winds while traveling to the location. The mechanic performed a temporary repair on the damaged area of the aircraft. Due to concerns regarding the flooding at the site and forecasted rain, the pilot expressed a preference to relocate the helicopter. While the mechanic suggested hovering after takeoff to evaluate the weather before moving to a local school or hospital, the pilot proceeded with a walk-around inspection and checked flight charts for obstructions before departing.
The aircraft collided with trees and the ground while flying level with rising terrain during conditions of low cloud and low visibility. The wreckage was located the following morning.
Findings
An investigation into the accident revealed that there was no record of the pilot obtaining a weather briefing via radio or cellular phone prior to departure. Toxicological examinations of the pilot's blood showed the presence of pseudoephedrine, a decongestant, and doxylamine, a sedating antihistamine.