Originally Posted by
malabo
In this case a 1/2 moon, clear night, quality operator, pad to pad - an early jump to conclusions.
If these assumptions are correct then indeed those are not the standard ingredients for the typical CFIT accident.
That said, the pictures of the wreckage in the woods are really whispering CFIT. The destruction of the cabin indicates massive forward speed. There is no 90° bend between cabin and tail, so the angle of arrival doesn't look like it was vertical or in rotation or any other unusual attitude for that matter. And no Mayday call (at least that I'm aware of).
On top of that the description of the ear witness hearing sounds of Rotorblades hitting trees.
Will be interesting to learn the cause if the cause was really anything but CFIT. I personally would be surprised.