Incident Overview
A helicopter experienced a power loss during a forced landing two days prior to the mishap. Following that event, maintenance personnel replaced the fuel pump and carburetor and flushed the fuel lines. The aircraft then operated without incident for approximately six hours.
The Mishap
During a subsequent flight, the helicopter lost engine power while at an altitude of 40 feet above ground level (AGL) and a forward speed of 20 knots. The limited altitude and speed were insufficient for the pilot to translate into a successful autorotation.
Impact and Damage
The helicopter made a hard touchdown. The main rotor flexed downward during the impact and struck the tail boom, severing it from the rest of the airframe.
Maintenance History
In response to the earlier power loss, the fuel system had been serviced, including replacement of the fuel pump and carburetor and flushing of the fuel lines. The subsequent power loss suggests that the underlying issue may not have been fully resolved, though no further analysis is available from the source.