What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) The pilot was attempting to maintain visual contact with the snow covered surface in IMC conditions consisting of fog and flat light (white out). During the attempted takeoff he lost visual reference due to intensifying fog. When he lost visual reference while hovering he attempted to land, resulting in a hard landing/roll over. He stated that he believed that he was solidly on the ground when he lowered the collective but has no memory of the event until he became aware that the aircraft was lying on the side. privacy data omitted
As the FAA filed it
(-23) THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAINTAIN VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE SNOW COVERED SURFACE IN IMC CONDITIONS CONSISTING OF FOG AND FLAT LIGHT (WHITE OUT). DURING THE ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF HE LOST VISUAL REFERENCE DUE TO INTENSIFYING FOG. WHEN HE LOST VISUAL REFERENCE WHILE HOVERING HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND, RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING/ROLL OVER. HE STATED THAT HE BELIEVED THAT HE WAS SOLIDLY ON THE GROUND WHEN HE LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE BUT HAS NO MEMORY OF THE EVENT UNTIL HE BECAME AWARE THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS LYING ON THE SIDE. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.