The airline transport certificated pilot, flying in support of a public use operation, landed the helicopter at an off-airport site to pickup two passengers. After takeoff, the passengers told the pilot that the main rotor blades contacted a small tree during landing. Upon landing at his destination, the pilot inspected the blades, and found dents/scratches in the bottom skins of the blades. The blades were determined to be damaged beyond repair.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees during the approach to landing, which resulted in the main rotor blades striking a tree. A factor associated with the accident was the tree.