Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain control during the descent which resulted in a hard landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
According to the pilot, during a short local flight while approaching to land, he encountered a descent rate that was unsuitable for landing. He attempted to correct for the rate of descent but was unsuccessful after pulling full collective pitch. The helicopter impacted the ground and rolled on to its right side, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. He stated that he may have encountered a condition called “settling with power” during his approach to land due to the winds. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies that would have prevented normal operation.