Accident Overview
During a forced landing, a helicopter struck a fence and slid nose down into a ravine. The pilot reported that after takeoff, at an altitude of 35 to 40 feet above ground level, a loud bang was heard. Gray and white smoke was observed emanating from the transmission and engine area. In response, the pilot rolled off the throttle and lowered the collective to execute the forced landing.
Post-Accident Findings
An examination of the engine following the accident revealed multiple malfunctions. Specifically, 11 spark plugs were found to be misfiring. Additionally, the right magneto 'P' lead had shorted out against the engine case. These issues likely contributed to the loss of engine power that necessitated the forced landing. The helicopter's impact with the fence and subsequent descent into the ravine occurred as the pilot attempted to manage the emergency landing with limited altitude.
The exact sequence of events leading to the engine anomalies was not further detailed in the inspection. No information was provided regarding any injuries, the helicopter's registration, or the specific location of the incident.