Event LAX83LA134

Factual narrative

THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH A TREE DURING A LANDING AFTER A DECAY IN ROTOR RPM DURING TAKEOFF. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT THE ACFT WAS FACING SOUTHEAST PRIOR TO DEPARTURE AND THE PILOT ESTIMATED THAT THE WIND WAS FROM THE NORTHWEST AT 8 KTS. FOLLOWING A PEDAL TURN INTO THE WIND AFTER TAKEOFF MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE WAS EXECUTED TO CLEAR A TREE THAT WAS 10 FT HIGHER THAN THE SADDLE BETWEEN 2 RIDGES WHERE THE TAKEOFF TOOK PLACE. NEAR THE TOP OF THE TREE THERE WAS A RAPID DECAY OF ROTOR RPM. DUE TO TERRAIN CONSIDERATIONS THE PILOT CHOSE NOT TO LOWER COLLECTIVE. THE ACFT WAS FLYING NEAR A STEEP SLOPE SO THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND IN THE OAK TREE TO PREVENT A DOWNHILL ROLL. HE DID NOT FLARE TO PREVENT BALLOONING OVER THE TREE. THE ACFT WAS ABOUT 12 LBS. UNDER MAX GROSS WT DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 2000 FT. DURING THE LANDING THE ACFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE 3 OCCUPANTS RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12