Incident Description
A helicopter was brought to a low hover. While in the hover, the pilot lost visual reference and the helicopter began a right turn, rotating 270 degrees before corrective action was initiated. The helicopter then rotated an additional 180 degrees to the right before touching down. During touchdown, the right skid broke off and the helicopter rolled over onto its right side.
The takeoff was attempted prior to sunrise, and a mechanic used a flashlight to illuminate the dual tachometer. There were minimal outside references available.
Post-Accident Findings
When interviewed after the accident, the pilot stated that he lowered the collective but did not roll off the throttle or use full left pedal. A post-accident examination of the helicopter disclosed no evidence of a pre-existing failure or malfunction.