Incident Details
On October 26, 2012, at approximately 1130 Pacific daylight time, a Robinson Helicopter Company R-44 II, registration N7530F, sustained substantial damage when it impacted trees following a loss of control while hovering out of ground effect. The accident occurred near Toutle, Washington. The helicopter was operated under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The flight had originated from a remote operating site about 30 minutes prior to the accident. No flight plan had been filed.
Pilot's Account
The pilot, the sole occupant and a private pilot, was not injured. He reported that he was using a long line to lift evergreen tree boughs from the side of a mountain, intending to sell them as Christmas decorations. The boughs were being harvested from his own property. While looking outside at his ground personnel, the pilot noticed the flight controls began to feel mushy. He recognized that the helicopter was experiencing a condition he described as "settling with power" and was "sinking." The pilot attempted to turn towards clean air and fly more directly into the wind. He subsequently heard the low rotor horn and entered an autorotation to an open area. During touchdown, the steep sloping terrain caused the helicopter to slide into trees, and it came to rest on its right side. The tail boom and landing skids were bent and/or broken from the helicopter.
Background
According to the FAA's Helicopter Flying Handbook, situations conducive to a settling with power (vortex ring state) condition include any hover above ground effect altitude and attempting to hover out of ground effect without maintaining precise altitude control. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.