Pete is 100% on the money, Aft cyclic in forward flight will delay RPM decay even with a delaied lowering of collective! Army/NASA tests on Rotor RPM on the low side with the Bell OH 5 found powered flight to 70% & no recovery without power posable. parachute required.
Bash & trash all you want that's pride messing with you.
(Still remember that 500 with the log stickin out the pilots floor.)