What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) During approach to the log landing with a load from the north east, the helicopter experienced poor handling characteristics. The pilot stopped his descent, over flew the landing and released the load clear of ground personnel. The pilot then released the long line and continued south east to find a clearing to land. The pilot continued flying the aircraft while experiencing poor maneuverability and increasing vibration for approximately 1 mile where he attempted a landing and crashed on a hillside. The helicopter was destroyed when it impacted terrain. The pilot sustained cuts, bruises and a cracked sternum.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) DURING APPROACH TO THE LOG LANDING WITH A LOAD FROM THE NORTH EAST, THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED POOR HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS. THE PILOT STOPPED HIS DESCENT, OVER FLEW THE LANDING AND RELEASED THE LOAD CLEAR OF GROUND PERSONNEL. THE PILOT THEN RELEASED THE LONG LINE AND CONTINUED SOUTH EAST TO FIND A CLEARING TO LAND. THE PILOT CONTINUED FLYING THE AIRCRAFT WHILE EXPERIENCING POOR MANEUVERABILITY AND INCREASING VIBRATION FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE WHERE HE ATTEMPTED A LANDING AND CRASHED ON A HILLSIDE. THE HELICOPTER WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT IMPACTED TERRAIN. THE PILOT SUSTAINED CUTS, BRUISES AND A CRACKED STERNUM.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.