Accident Sequence
The pilot, who had accumulated 3,053 total flight hours, reported that he was ferrying the helicopter to its new owner. While cruising at 1,000 feet above ground level (AGL), the helicopter's clutch light flickered and then extinguished. Approximately one minute later, the clutch light flickered again and subsequently went out. The pilot decided to land the helicopter and entered an autorotation, slowing the aircraft to 65 knots and executing a 180-degree left turn.
After the helicopter completed the turn, as it descended to approximately 200 feet AGL, it encountered a "high sink rate." When the helicopter descended through 150 feet AGL, the pilot rolled on the throttle, rejoined the needles, and increased collective pitch. Despite these inputs, the aircraft continued to descend abnormally, with the pilot noting an airspeed of 60 knots. The pilot further increased collective pitch, and by 50 feet AGL, the helicopter began to "shudder." The pilot initiated a flare, and the helicopter touched down "hard," bounced, and then touched down again. The left landing skid folded outward and upward, and the helicopter slid approximately 30 to 40 feet before coming to rest on its right side.
Post-Accident Examination
Subsequent examination of the clutch assembly, actuator assembly, and Vee belts revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The cause of the clutch light indications and the abnormal descent could not be determined from the available evidence.