Incident Overview
The accident sequence began approximately one and a half hours after the helicopter's takeoff, when the engine lost power. In response, the pilot executed an autorotation maneuver, resulting in a hard landing in a nearby field. Prior to the incident, the pilot had refueled the aircraft with an additional five gallons on the day of the accident. Nine days earlier, the fuel tank had been topped off, and the helicopter had been operated for fifteen minutes.
Technical Examination
Post-accident inspection of the engine revealed no mechanical abnormalities or malfunctions that could account for the power loss. The aircraft's total fuel capacity was listed as 64 gallons, with a useable amount of 63.4 gallons. When the helicopter was leveled and electrical power was applied, the low fuel light illuminated. Subsequently, the fuel boost pump removed 5 3/4 gallons from the system.
Regulatory and Operational Findings
The helicopter's flight manual indicates that at low fuel levels, sideslip maneuvers may uncover the fuel tank outlet, leading to fuel starvation. A review of the pilot's logbook identified a critical regulatory issue: while the pilot was not fully helicopter rated, he possessed a helicopter solo endorsement. This endorsement had expired approximately 60 days prior to the accident.