Incident Overview
A pilot reported that after shooting a coyote, they attempted to land to retrieve it. The coyote was located between two ridges. During the approach, the helicopter's main rotor RPM began to decay. The pilot stated that there was insufficient altitude to recover from the decaying rotor speed, so they landed on the flattest area available.
Hard Landing and Damage
The landing was described as hard, and the main rotor blades subsequently sheared off the tail boom. The estimated density altitude at the site was 7,500 feet.
Contributing Conditions
The investigation has not yet determined a probable cause for the accident. The pilot's account indicates the main rotor RPM decay occurred during the approach, but no specific causal factors were identified in the available information.