Robinson R-44 | N331ES

The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this accident to be Pilot Error, in that the non instrument rated pilot dropped off 2 passengers, then intended to reach a restaurant which was 12 miles due east of the drop off location, and eventually flew into terrain in foggy conditions. After the drop off, the accident pilot flew 3.3 miles north, in an apparent attempt to avoid both fog and rising terrain, whereupon he eventually landed at a convenience store but did not shut down. The accident pilot then took off again after texting his lunch appointment contact that he was running later and had “encountered fog.” The helicopter was found to have impacted terrain just one quarter mile north and east of the convenience store, and less than 60 seconds after liftoff. Numerous witnesses heard the sound of the impact from the convenience store and remarked how foggy it was at liftoff.

The DTSB recommends that all pilots of all rotor wing aircraft rehearse and condition themselves to avoid the pressure to perform low level flight in order reach a destination in obviously very low ceiling and very low visibility conditions. The accident pilot lost his life attempting to reach a restaurant still 11 miles away in IMC conditions.