What happened
During a flight mission, the pilot navigated an aircraft into a canyon, flying at a low altitude that deviated from the intended mission profile. As the pilot proceeded upslope toward rising terrain, an attempt was made to reverse the direction of the flight. During this maneuver, the aircraft entered a stall and subsequently transitioned into a spin. This resulted in an uncontrolled descent and a collision with the ground.
All six occupants on board were killed in the accident. The pilot's background included significant experience in helicopters, but at the time of the event, they had accumulated only approximately 13 hours of flight time specifically in this make/model.
Findings
Several contributing factors were identified following the investigation. The aircraft was operating slightly above its maximum gross weight, and the flight took place under conditions of high density altitude. Investigators determined that the pilot misjudged the necessary clearance and failed to maintain adequate airspeed during the turn. Additionally, the decision to fly at low altitudes within the gorge was deemed improper in-flight planning. Ultimately, the stall/spin maneuver led to the loss of control and the fatal impact with the terrain.