Incident Overview
A helicopter pilot reported that during cruise flight, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot executed an emergency landing in a wheat field. During the landing, the main rotor blades contacted the tail boom and sheared off the tail rotor.
Damage Assessment
Substantial damage was sustained to the tail rotor, tail rotor drive shaft, and tail boom. The pilot stated there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Fuel Examination
The pilot reported using a placard as a reference for a fuel tank sight gauge. A postaccident examination conducted by an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector revealed approximately three and one-half gallons of fuel in the right fuel tank and approximately one and one-half gallons of fuel in the left fuel tank. This make and model of helicopter has a total fuel capacity of 61 gallons, of which 57.5 gallons is useable and three and one-half gallons is unusable.