Incident Overview
A helicopter experienced a loss of engine power at about 700 feet above ground level, prompting the pilot to initiate an autorotation to a street. During the descent, the pilot executed an early flare to avoid wires, trading forward speed for altitude to clear the obstacles. After passing over the wires, the helicopter began settling, and the pilot increased collective pitch. However, the helicopter touched down hard.
Consequences
The hard landing caused the main rotor system to flex downward, severing the tail boom. Despite the impact, subsequent examination of the engine and fuel system revealed no anomalies. An operational check of the engine was also performed, and it operated within specified parameters.
Findings
No mechanical or fuel-related malfunctions were identified in the post-incident inspection. The engine performed to operational specifications during testing.