Incident Overview
A helicopter collided with trees and the ground while flying level with rising terrain. The conditions at the time included low cloud and low visibility. The wreckage was located the following morning.
Sequence of Events
The pilot had earlier flown to a highway accident site to transport injured persons to the hospital. During the attempted loading of the injured, the chin bubble of the helicopter was damaged, and consequently the flight was canceled. The injured persons were transported by ground ambulance.
A mechanic was dispatched to the site and encountered moderate rain and gusty winds while en route. The mechanic made a temporary repair to the damaged area of the helicopter. According to the mechanic, the pilot indicated the site was a flood area and, with a forecast of more rain, he preferred to move the helicopter. The mechanic suggested to the pilot that he relocate the aircraft locally to a school or hospital after first hovering after lift off and evaluating the weather. The mechanic would then drive the pilot from the relocation site to the destination. The pilot did not acknowledge the suggestion and performed a walk-around inspection of the helicopter, and checked his flight charts for obstructions. The pilot then started the helicopter and departed. There is no record that the pilot obtained a weather briefing by radio or by cell phone before departing the accident site.
Toxicology Results
Toxicological examination of the pilot's blood revealed the presence of doxylamine, a sedating over-the-counter antihistamine used in sleep aids and multi-symptom cold relievers. Additionally, pseudoephedrine, a decongestant available in many multi-symptom cold relievers, was found.