Flight Details
During a flight to the destination airport, the pilot made an intermediate stop to refuel the helicopter and obtain a weather briefing. According to the pilot, the forecast for his route indicated no precipitation, northwest winds at 15 knots, and a broken cloud ceiling at 2,500 feet. No specific windshear or turbulence was forecast.
Weather and Wind Conditions
As the flight progressed over mountainous terrain, the pilot observed increasing wind strength. He made the decision to land after clearing the second ridge. However, upon crossing that ridge, the helicopter encountered what the pilot described as "strong windshear" that initially lifted the aircraft and then abruptly dropped it to the ground. Recorded weather data from that period indicated that an AIRMET TANGO for turbulence was active along the pilot's route of flight.
Pilot Background
The pilot reported approximately 600 hours of total flight experience, all of which were accumulated in the same make and model as the accident helicopter. He stated that there were no pre-impact mechanical anomalies with the aircraft.