Accident
A commercial pilot executed an autorotative landing in an open field after experiencing a loss of engine power during cruise flight. As the helicopter touched down, the skids struck a berm, initiating a rocking motion. The aircraft pitched fore and aft, causing the main and tail rotor blades to strike the ground.
Aircraft Information
The helicopter was a single-engine model equipped with a single-tank fuel system with a capacity of 29 gallons. The pilot estimated a fuel flow of 16 gallons per hour, calculating an endurance of 1 hour and 48 minutes. The engine had operated for 1 hour and 35 minutes prior to the power loss.
Post-Accident Findings
Following the accident, the pilot inspected the aircraft and determined that the fuel load had been completely exhausted. In the accident report, under the section titled "Recommendation (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented)," the pilot suggested that more thorough planning for cross-country flights could have prevented the incident.