Background
The pilot of a helicopter reported an accident during a pre-flight ground operation. The incident occurred after a normal preflight and a short air taxi towards the runway.
Sequence of Events
According to the pilot, after completing preflight checks, the helicopter was lifted into a hover and air taxied approximately 120 feet towards the runway. The pilot then set the helicopter down on the ground to turn on the avionics switch. While performing this action, the pilot removed a hand from the cyclic control.
Pilot Statements
The pilot stated, "I must not have lowered collective fully, as when I removed my hand from the cyclic, & the wind shifted (which is common at this airport) slightly to right front quarter, it displaced the rotor blades causing a dynamic rollover to the left."
The pilot further explained, "I was concentrating on my slope landing and thinking of my subsequent slope departure so thoroughly I that I did not positively notice rotor rpm dropping as I should have before taking my hand off the cyclic."
In reflection, the pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented by, "Lowering collective fully before removing hand from cyclic."