What happened
A student pilot was beginning a cross-country flight when the helicopter entered the cruise phase of flight. During this time, the pilot attempted to adjust the cabin heater control but instead activated the fuel shut-off control. This action caused the engine to lose power. The student pilot subsequently performed an autorotation, resulting in a hard landing.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the configuration of the cockpit controls. The aircraft involved was being operated from the left seat, with the fuel shut-off control located on the left side of the instrument panel and the heater control positioned on the far right side. Both controls utilized pull-type knobs.
It was noted that the pilot had been training in two different models of the same helicopter make, both of which featured supplemental type certificate heater installations. In the other training aircraft, the configuration was reversed: the fuel shut-off control was on the right side and the heater control was to its left. Additionally, the manufacturer's optional aftermarket heater installation uses a different control method, with the knob located on the front of the center seat area and operated via side-to-side motion rather than a pull-type mechanism.
Findings
No evidence of any mechanical anomalies prior to the impact was discovered.