What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Helicopter operating at the 8800 ft. level on Mt. Raniers carbon glacier for rescue of climbers. Pilot had the skids resting on the snow for 8-10 seconds, with the collective almost down when he reports the helicopter suddenly pitched and began to shake. Pilot stated he thought he reached a "droop stop limit" and reacted by moving the cyclic forward and raising collective. The helicopter lifted off and at about 20 feet yawed to the right. The pilot reported that he had no rotor authority and lowered the collective and settled back to the snow, landing upright, pointing down hill.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) HELICOPTER OPERATING AT THE 8800 FT. LEVEL ON MT. RANIERS CARBON GLACIER FOR RESCUE OF CLIMBERS. PILOT HAD THE SKIDS RESTING ON THE SNOW FOR 8-10 SECONDS, WITH THE COLLECTIVE ALMOST DOWN WHEN HE REPORTS THE HELICOPTER SUDDENLY PITCHED AND BEGAN TO SHAKE. PILOT STATED HE THOUGHT HE REACHED A "DROOP STOP LIMIT" AND REACTED BY MOVING THE CYCLIC FORWARD AND RAISING COLLECTIVE. THE HELICOPTER LIFTED OFF AND AT ABOUT 20 FEET YAWED TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD NO ROTOR AUTHORITY AND LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE AND SETTLED BACK TO THE SNOW, LANDING UPRIGHT, POINTING DOWN HILL.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.