20250424003989A

The PIC accepted a public relations event flight and completed the certificate holder's risk analysis form. The PIC did not document on the risk assessment form that the landing zone was an unimproved landing site. The PIC conducted the flight and landed at the site without incident. During takeoff from the landing zone, the PIC attempted a vertical takeoff, oriented to the north. During the takeoff, the helicopter drifted aft and contacted a tree on the south side of the landing zone. The aircraft immediately entered a rapid, uncontrollable yaw, followed by an uncontrolled descent, and impacted the ground. The helicopter came to rest, upright, with the belly of the aircraft on the ground, and the engines still operating. Witnesses to the accident, which included the certificate holder's base pilot supervisor and fire department personnel, extracted the pilot and one passenger from the aircraft and shut down the aircraft engines. One passenger was able to self extract. The aircraft subsequently caught fire and was extinguished by the fire department.