Incident Summary
A helicopter accident occurred during takeoff from a friend's private residence located on a hill with a slope. The pilot and two passengers had traveled to the residence and landed the helicopter on the hill. After spending a few hours at the residence, they prepared to return home.
Wind and Positioning
During the visit, the wind direction became variable and resulted in a tailwind relative to the helicopter's parking position. The pilot stated that he did not reposition the helicopter directly into the wind while on the ground, as he considered the wind not strong enough to warrant such action.
Takeoff and Maneuver
At takeoff, as the helicopter lifted off into a hover, the pilot initiated a right turn to orient the helicopter into the wind. The helicopter began to drift left of the landing pad area. The pilot recalled that the helicopter spun to the right faster than anticipated. In response, he added additional power and applied left pedal to reduce the rate of turn.
Low Rotor RPM and Attempted Autorotation
During the turn, the pilot heard a low rotor rpm warning and observed the corresponding warning light. He then attempted to execute a hovering autorotation to land. However, the helicopter did not reach the landing pad. Instead, it touched down on the slope of the hill and subsequently rolled over.
Mechanical Status
The pilot stated that there were no mechanical problems with the helicopter prior to the accident.