Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's uncoordinated flight control inputs while entering a hover, which lead to a loss of aircraft control which resulted in the left skid making contact with the ground, causing the helicopter to roll on its side.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that during a practice approach to an off-airport location, he increased the collective and applied left pedal to bring the helicopter to a hover. The helicopter nosed right and continued to rotate as he attempted to stop it by applying left pedal. Subsequently, the helicopter encountered a tail wind situation, and the rate of turn became excessive, as he continued to attempt to arrest the spin. Shortly thereafter, the left skid caught the ground and bent inward, causing the helicopter to roll on its left side. The fuselage and main rotor blades were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.