Incident Overview
During a hover, as the helicopter climbed to an altitude between 15 and 20 feet, the pilot reported sensing an external force, describing it as "something was pushing the helicopter." Shortly after this sensation, the helicopter began to descend, and the rotor RPM started to decrease. In response, the pilot initiated a precautionary landing.
Loss of Control
During the landing procedure, the passenger inadvertently applied pressure to the rudder pedals. This unintended input led to a loss of directional control for the pilot. As the helicopter touched down, it rolled onto its side.
The pilot was unable to maintain control of the aircraft prior to the rollover. The sequence of events—unknown force, descent, RPM decay, and inadvertent pedal input—culminated in the helicopter rolling over upon touchdown.