What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot was shuttling a group of 10 tour passengers from one ridge to another, both takeoff/landing areas approximately 3800 ft MSL. The first group to be shuttled was a group of three passengers. Actual weights of passengers not used; weights of passengers was guessed by pilot. Upon takeoff into hover, power used (about 23 inches manifold pressure) was above the max continuous power suggested for that scenario (about 21.5 inches mp). On reconnaissance of landing site, pilot was at a slow speed with a significant tailwind (about 20 KTS). Helicopter started to descend rapidly, the pilot responded by pulling up on collective which then led to the aircraft's full throttle warning light coming on as aircraft continued to descend. In an area downhill from the intended landing site, the aircraft landed hard with collective full up and rolled onto its side.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT WAS SHUTTLING A GROUP OF 10 TOUR PASSENGERS FROM ONE RIDGE TO ANOTHER, BOTH TAKEOFF/LANDING AREAS APPROXIMATELY 3800 FT MSL. THE FIRST GROUP TO BE SHUTTLED WAS A GROUP OF THREE PASSENGERS. ACTUAL WEIGHTS OF PASSENGERS NOT USED; WEIGHTS OF PASSENGERS WAS GUESSED BY PILOT. UPON TAKEOFF INTO HOVER, POWER USED (ABOUT 23 INCHES MANIFOLD PRESSURE) WAS ABOVE THE MAX CONTINUOUS POWER SUGGESTED FOR THAT SCENARIO (ABOUT 21.5 INCHES MP). ON RECONNAISSANCE OF LANDING SITE, PILOT WAS AT A SLOW SPEED WITH A SIGNIFICANT TAILWIND (ABOUT 20 KTS). HELICOPTER STARTED TO DESCEND RAPIDLY, THE PILOT RESPONDED BY PULLING UP ON COLLECTIVE WHICH THEN LED TO THE AIRCRAFT'S FULL THROTTLE WARNING LIGHT COMING ON AS AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO DESCEND. IN AN AREA DOWNHILL FROM THE INTENDED LANDING SITE, THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD WITH COLLECTIVE FULL UP AND ROLLED ONTO ITS SIDE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.