Accident Overview
On August 18, 2015, at approximately 0900 mountain daylight time, a Schweizer 269C helicopter (registration N17YS) experienced a complete loss of engine power and subsequently made a hard landing about 10 miles northwest of North Las Vegas Airport (VGT) in Las Vegas, Nevada. The helicopter was engaged in an instructional flight under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, operated by Airworks Aviation Academy. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight, which had departed VGT at 0845.
Injuries and Damage
The certified flight instructor was not injured, and the pilot undergoing instruction sustained minor injuries. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom.
Flight Sequence
According to the flight instructor, after the student leveled the helicopter at 4,500 feet mean sea level, the instructor prepared to demonstrate an autorotation maneuver with the student following along on the controls. The instructor smoothly lowered the collective, input right pedal, and pulled back on the cyclic to enter the autorotation. Immediately after entering the maneuver, the instructor heard a change in engine noise and observed that the engine RPM gauge indicated zero. The instructor attempted several times to restart the engine by pressing the start button, but each time there was no indication that the starter engaged. The instructor continued the descent and executed a hard landing. Subsequently, the main rotor blades severed the tailboom.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident engine examination conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector revealed that the positive lead was found separated from the battery terminal, and that the lead exhibited corrosion. The positive lead was attached to the battery, and the engine started and operated normally during testing.