Helicopter Accident at Mountain Top Heliport (N8926F)

Incident Overview and Pilot Account During a northerly approach to a mountain top heliport located at 3,400 feet MSL, a certificated commercial pilot reported increasing collective pitch while reducing approach airspeed. The pilot stated that the rotor RPM began to decay during this maneuver. As a result, the pilot was forced to hover over and eventually land on uneven terrain approximately thirty feet short of and downhill from the intended landing site. The pilot noted that he kept the toes of the skids on the uphill slope while attempting to recover rotor RPM, rolling the throttle on and lowering the collective as much as possible. During an attempt to reposition the helicopter, the pilot increased collective pitch and applied left pedal input. The left skid then impacted the ground, causing the helicopter to roll over. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the rotor system, fuselage, and tail boom. The pilot reported clear skies, unlimited visibility, gusty southeast winds at 10 to 15 knots, and a temperature of about 70 degrees Fahrenheit at the time of the accident.