Helicopter Water Landing After Engine Failure During Transition to Hover (N16619)

Incident Overview and Emergency Response The pilot initiated an autorotation into water following a loss of power while the helicopter was transitioning from forward flight to a hover. During the water landing, the emergency floats were armed, but the pilot was unable to deploy them. The pilot and passenger evacuated the aircraft, which subsequently sank. ## Investigation Findings Examination of the wreckage showed that electrical wires used to activate the discharge agent had separated on impact, rendering the float deployment system inoperable. The engine's compressor section sustained a contained failure. Investigators found no evidence of foreign object ingestion, failure or malfunction of the No. 1, No. 2, or No. 2.5 bearings, rubbing of the rotor blades against the compressor case, or axial movement of the rotor assembly. A metallurgical examination could not determine the event that caused the compressor section failure. ## Operator Statement The operator stated that company personnel were not performing the salt water contamination removal procedure recommended by the engine manufacturer.