Originally Posted by
ColdWhiskey
My helo knowledge is very limited, but I do know that a ‘retreating blade stall’ can occur after an abrupt pull up, especially when operating at high gross weight and high speed. The result of such, is loss of lift and a rolling motion to the left.
Could the pilot have suddenly realized his terrain situation, and initiated an abrupt pull up, and inadvertently stalled? This could account for the left turn and sudden altitude loss.
Another thought. Has this model of helicopter ever had an instance of the rotor disc contacting the tail boom, after an abrupt pull up?
this is what I believe to have happened