On August 21, 1982, a Hughes 369HS (registration N56AD) operated by Rem. Service Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Troutdale, OR. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A helicopter executed an autorotation and flare at about 50 ft AGL, then fell vertically, bounced, and rolled over. No fuel was found on board.
Accident Overview
The flight originated at the pilot's residence, located approximately 20 miles south of the Troutdale Airport. According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to refuel the aircraft, as he estimated having about 8 gallons of fuel at departure.
Descent and Impact
As the aircraft approached the ground at an altitude of about 50 feet above ground level (AGL), the pilot performed what appeared to be a flare maneuver at the bottom of an autorotation. Immediately following the flare, the helicopter suddenly fell vertically to the ground. The impact caused the aircraft to bounce approximately 10 to 15 feet into the air before falling back to the ground and rolling over onto its right side.
Post-Accident Findings
Examination of the aircraft after the accident revealed that no fuel was on board.