What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The pilot reported that he picked up the helicopter from the pad to about a 10 foot AGL hover profile (in ground effect). The pad was close to various trees. The helicopter was originally facing west, the pilot conducted a pedal turn to the south, to face to the east (about 180 degrees). He reported as the helicopter was turning, a gust of wind from the NE, pushed the helicopter into the trees. The main rotor blades impacted the trees, and the helicopter impacted the ground and a snow bank. The pilot was able to egress without further incident.
As the FAA filed it
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE PICKED UP THE HELICOPTER FROM THE PAD TO ABOUT A 10 FOOT AGL HOVER PROFILE (IN GROUND EFFECT). THE PAD WAS CLOSE TO VARIOUS TREES. THE HELICOPTER WAS ORIGINALLY FACING WEST, THE PILOT CONDUCTED A PEDAL TURN TO THE SOUTH, TO FACE TO THE EAST (ABOUT 180 DEGREES). HE REPORTED AS THE HELICOPTER WAS TURNING, A GUST OF WIND FROM THE NE, PUSHED THE HELICOPTER INTO THE TREES. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES IMPACTED THE TREES, AND THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND AND A SNOW BANK. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO EGRESS WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.