Accident Summary
A helicopter accident occurred during a passenger pickup flight. The pilot had queried passenger weights and fueled the helicopter accordingly. After flying to the pickup location, the passengers proved heavier than expected. The pilot reported that the helicopter was able to achieve a hover and seemed to have sufficient power for takeoff.
Sequence of Events
As the helicopter transitioned to forward flight and passed over a thicket, the main rotor rpm began to decrease. The pilot lowered the aircraft's nose in an attempt to increase rotor speed. However, the rpm did not increase, and the helicopter subsequently impacted terrain hard. The impact caused substantial damage, including separation of the tailboom.
Weight and Performance Considerations
The pilot estimated that the helicopter's weight at the time of the accident was within the envelope for in-ground-effect (IGE) operations but outside the envelope for out-of-ground-effect (OGE) operations. The pilot noted no mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter during the flight.
Post-Accident Observations
The helicopter sustained substantial damage when the tailboom separated during the hard impact with terrain. No further injuries or fatalities are mentioned in the source.
Safety Recommendation
The pilot's safety recommendation was that he should have requested one person to remain behind until additional fuel was burned off, thereby reducing weight.