Accident Overview
During an aerial reconnaissance flight over an area intended for fertilizer application, the helicopter was operating at an altitude of 35 feet above ground level and an airspeed of 40 miles per hour. As the pilot completed a turn to downwind, the engine lost power. The pilot immediately leveled the helicopter and entered autorotation to manage the descent.
Flight Details
The autorotation maneuver resulted in a hard landing. Upon impact, the main rotor blades struck the tailboom of the helicopter. The aircraft subsequently came to rest at the landing site. No further details regarding the helicopter's condition or the pilot's actions after landing are available from the source.
Post-Accident Findings
Following the accident, ground personnel examined the helicopter's fuel system. Both fuel tanks were found intact, with no signs of rupture or leakage. A total of 20 ounces of usable fuel was drained from the tanks. The Helicopter Flight Manual specifies that the combination of 35 feet altitude and 40 miles per hour airspeed is an area to avoid for continuous operations, though the relevance to this event is not explicitly stated.