Incident Overview
Shortly after takeoff, as the helicopter reached an altitude of 50 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. The pilot, who had accumulated 5,400 flight hours, elected to carry out an autorotation to a nearby open field. During the autorotation, the helicopter impacted the ground hard and subsequently came to rest on its right side.
Post-accident Examination
Following the accident, an examination of the engine found no major damage. However, upon removal of the engine fuel filter, contaminants were observed inside the filter element assembly. Similarly, the fuel pump filter bowl also contained contaminants. Fuel samples were taken from both the fuel pump filter bowl and the fuel cell for laboratory analysis.
Laboratory Findings
The lab test results revealed heavy water contamination in the fuel system. No further details regarding the source or extent of the contamination were provided in the investigation report.