What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Helicopter was on approach to helipad when he saw another helicopter on the pad. He decided to orbit until the other helicopter exited the helipad. At approximately 400 ft AGL and 50 knots the pilot heard a sudible warning tone and saw a split in the RPM indication. Noting that the #2 engine showed low he decided to land the helicopter immediately. During the landing stage the ash from the local fire caused him to loose visual contact with the ground. The helicopter struck several trees damaging the rotor system and the left hand horizontal stabilizer.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) HELICOPTER WAS ON APPROACH TO HELIPAD WHEN HE SAW ANOTHER HELICOPTER ON THE PAD. HE DECIDED TO ORBIT UNTIL THE OTHER HELICOPTER EXITED THE HELIPAD. AT APPROXIMATELY 400 FT AGL AND 50 KNOTS THE PILOT HEARD A SUDIBLE WARNING TONE AND SAW A SPLIT IN THE RPM INDICATION. NOTING THAT THE #2 ENGINE SHOWED LOW HE DECIDED TO LAND THE HELICOPTER IMMEDIATELY. DURING THE LANDING STAGE THE ASH FROM THE LOCAL FIRE CAUSED HIM TO LOOSE VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTER STRUCK SEVERAL TREES DAMAGING THE ROTOR SYSTEM AND THE LEFT HAND HORIZONTAL STABILIZER.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.