Accident Overview
A pilot reported that he had purchased a helicopter but did not register it. During a local flight, he observed a loss in rotor rpm. He performed an autorotation, but the helicopter landed hard into soft mud and nosed over. Shortly after the impact, the helicopter burst into flames and was completely consumed by the postcrash fire.
Examination Findings
A review of the purchase agreement, signed by the buyer, revealed that the helicopter had been sold as parts. Investigators examined the airframe and flight control system components and found no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. Similarly, examination of the engine and its systems did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunction. The cause of the loss of engine power could not be determined.
Additional Details
The pilot stated that he did not register the helicopter. The accident site was characterized by soft mud. No information was provided about the helicopter's make, model, registration, or engine count. The date, location, time of day, and weather conditions were not specified. There were no reports of injuries or fatalities. The investigation did not identify any contributing factors or causal links beyond the loss of rotor rpm and the subsequent hard landing.