What happened
The pilot was conducting a landing maneuver when the aircraft encountered a partial power loss while approximately 60 feet above ground level. Attempting to manage the situation, the pilot executed a hard landing in an open field. Upon touchdown, the impact caused the rotor blades to sever the tail boom of the helicopter.
The investigation
Following the accident, investigators examined the aircraft's fuel system components. A thorough inspection revealed that debris had accumulated within the fuel strainer. This blockage indicated significant fuel contamination within the system.
Findings
The mechanical examination confirmed that the debris in the fuel strainer restricted fuel flow, leading to the observed power loss. The sequence of events began with fuel contamination causing the engine to lose power during the critical phase of landing. The subsequent hard landing resulted in structural failure of the tail boom due to rotor blade contact.