What happened
On July 4, 2024, at approximately 10:43 EDT, a Rotorway 162 F helicopter, registration N426DM, was involved in an accident near Maybee, Michigan. The flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal use.
The pilot performed a preflight inspection and taxied for takeoff without noting any issues. After lifting into a hover and confirming all systems were normal, the pilot climbed to an altitude of approximately 1,800 feet and flew locally for about one hour. During the final stages of the flight, the pilot observed a simultaneous drop in both engine and rotor RPMs. Following adjustments to the throttle and collective, the rotor RPMs surged while the engine RPMs continued to fluctuate.
In response to the power fluctuations, the pilot initiated an autorotation toward a grass-covered field. While descending, the pilot maintained an airspeed of 70 knots and attempted to keep the rotor RPM at approximately 100%. As the aircraft approached the landing site, the pilot flared the helicopter to reduce forward momentum. Upon contact with the ground, the skids dug into soft soil. The tailboom subsequently struck the ground, causing the helicopter to nose forward and spin approximately 120 degrees before coming to an upright rest. The accident resulted in no injuries to the pilot or passenger, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tailboom, and main rotor blades.