What happened
During a post-maintenance flight check, a helicopter experienced a loss of engine power while operating near the end of a runway. The pilot attempted an autorotation to the runway surface, but the aircraft landed hard. The impact caused the main rotor blades to strike and sever the tail boom.
The flight was intended to be a short-duration check following an annual inspection. According to the pilot, the fuel gauge indicated less than 1/2 tank, noting that a full load of approximately 25 gallons typically supports about two hours of flight. The pilot had been flying for approximately one hour when the power loss occurred. There were no reported fatalities or injuries.
The investigation
A post-accident examination by an aviation maintenance technician found that there was no fuel remaining in the fuel tanks. Personnel from the fixed base operator who assisted at the scene did not observe any fuel spills on the ground surrounding the aircraft. While the pilot reported refueling the aircraft approximately 2.5 months prior at a local airport, no official fueling records were available to verify this action.
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the aircraft and found no mechanical anomalies or breaches within the fuel system.