Incident Overview
During an en route flight, the pilot of a helicopter experienced a reduction in engine power and a drop in engine oil pressure. In response, the pilot decided to perform a precautionary landing to investigate the issue. The pilot selected a parking lot with an approximate 25-degree upslope as the landing area.
Sequence of Events
Approximately five seconds after the initial touchdown in the parking lot, the helicopter began to slide rearward and veered to the right, colliding with a parked vehicle. The helicopter then came to rest on its side. Following the collision, the helicopter and two parked vehicles burst into flames.
Post-Accident Examination
An examination of the engine assembly and airframe remains revealed no evidence of pre-impact component failure or system malfunction. The investigation noted that weather conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice. The pilot did not report using carburetor heat at any point during the flight.
Pilot Information
Review of information on file with the Federal Aviation Administration showed that the pilot was issued a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and airplane multi-engine land. The pilot did not hold a helicopter pilot's rating. According to the pilot's logbook, he had accumulated 2,289 hours of total flight time, with 295 hours in the accident aircraft make and model.