Incident Sequence
While departing to the east, the pilot noticed a drop in rotor rpm. The pilot rolled the throttle, but the engine did not produce power. The pilot then landed straight ahead, performing a high-altitude run-on landing. After touching down, the helicopter slid approximately 30 to 40 feet. During the slide, the left skid caught in ground brush, causing the left front support of the landing gear to break. The tail rotor blades became bent and, while still rotating, impacted the skid bar. The impact sheared the bar off and separated the gear box from the tail. The helicopter came to rest on its left side.
Examination Findings
An FAA inspector conducted a postaccident examination of the aircraft. The inspection revealed that the turbocharger had leaked oil into the induction system. According to the inspector's accident report, "The slight power loss appears to have been caused by the oil leakage pass[ing] the seals in the turbocharger."