What happened
The pilot positioned the helicopter for a takeoff over a stand of trees, a maneuver he had successfully performed previously. To clear the trees, the pilot performed a vertical lift. Upon reaching a hover just above the treetops, the pilot experienced a loss of power and nosed the aircraft forward in an attempt to gain airspeed.
Unable to acquire sufficient airspeed, the pilot used right pedal input to turn toward a narrow clearing and reduced the collective to perform a landing. When the aircraft made contact with the ground, the right skid dug into the rain-soaked ground, causing the helicopter to roll onto its side blades. The pilot was not injured.
Findings
The weather at the time of the accident was described as hot and muggy, with an estimated temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit, high humidity, and no wind. It had been raining for approximately 1.5 days prior to the event. The pilot reported that the engine appeared to be performing normally and did not believe a mechanical failure had occurred. Factors identified in the accident included density altitude, gross weight, and out-of-ground-effect operations.