What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) The pilot stated that he allowed the helicopter's airspeed to decrease to about 50 knots and it lost effective translational lift. The helicopter's altitude was approximately 100 feet above terrain elevation. The pilot additionally reported that he got behind the power curve, began descending, and felt that to attempt a recovery in the mountainous area would have uncertain results. The pilot made an emergency landing, but because of the uneven terrain, the helicopter dynamically rolled onto its side. This was not an NMAC or pilot deviation reported by ATC.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ALLOWED THE HELICOPTER'S AIRSPEED TO DECREASE TO ABOUT 50 KNOTS AND IT LOST EFFECTIVE TRANSLATIONAL LIFT. THE HELICOPTER'S ALTITUDE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET ABOVE TERRAIN ELEVATION. THE PILOT ADDITIONALLY REPORTED THAT HE GOT BEHIND THE POWER CURVE, BEGAN DESCENDING, AND FELT THAT TO ATTEMPT A RECOVERY IN THE MOUNTAINOUS AREA WOULD HAVE UNCERTAIN RESULTS. THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING, BUT BECAUSE OF THE UNEVEN TERRAIN, THE HELICOPTER DYNAMICALLY ROLLED ONTO ITS SIDE. THIS WAS NOT AN NMAC OR PILOT DEVIATION REPORTED BY ATC.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.