As a Chief Pilot with all that experience and an IR
Unfortunately
crab he was lacking in one area, and that was IF time, he gained the rating in 2007 and reported 68.2 hours simulated in about 2010, then 75 hours total in 2019, no reported actual so presumably all simulated. He reported 1,300 hours in the S-76 as at 2019, so experienced in type but no actual IF it would seem. It's very difficult to simulate IF in the 76 so with him finding himself in cloud for the very first time, even though he has a rating, is going to be something of a task, even without the distraction of talking to some body or pushing ident. Had a rating but no proficiency. Typical VMC into IMC with the usual predictable outcome, though it didn't need to be if he had some real IF time. As said we're all human and no one has yet found a new way to have an accident.
I don't know why ATC is even being brought into this
Likewise, presumably to shine the spotlight elsewhere and have a line of reasoning (story) to feed the jury who is ignorant of technicalities. Bring on the expert witnesses.