BELL 47 PILOT REPORTS ENGINE FAILURE AND SUCCESSFUL AUTO ROTATION FROM 800 FT AGL. FUEL STARVATION WAS SUSPECTED DUE TO MANEUVERING WITH RESERVE FUEL.

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INTRODUCTION: ON A CLR WARM HUMID SUMMER DAY WITH A STIFF BREEZE OF ABOUT 8-10 KTS OUT OF THE NW I WAS GIVING EVENT ATTENDEES RIDES OVER THE LAKE IN A BELL 47 HELI. I HAD COMPLETED MANY RIDES THAT DAY; WHICH LASTED ABOUT 5 MINS EACH. UNEVEN HEATING OF THE SURFACE CAUSED TURB AT SEVERAL LOCATIONS ON THE RTE. ON THIS FLT I COMPLETED THE TKOF AND THEN TURNED L CONTINUING TO CLB TO OUR XWIND TURN TO THE R AND FINAL CRUISE ALT OF ABOUT 1000 FT AGL. AS I BANKED R AND CROSSED THE LAKE SHORELINE I HIT TURB AND THE ACFT YAWED L AND THEN SILENCE; THE ENG HESITATED AND SUDDENLY QUIT. I ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION AND SELECTED MY LNDG SPOT; WHICH REQUIRED A 180 DEG TURN TO THE L TO LAND INTO THE WIND IN A LOW GROWTH CORNFIELD. THE DSCNT; FLARE AND LNDG WAS ACCOMPLISHED AND NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE RESULTED FROM THE SUCCESSFUL AUTOROTATION. THE PAX WERE REASSURED AND ANOTHER HELI WAS SUMMONED TO PICK UP THE PAX AND RETURN THEM TO THE BASE OF OPS. CORRECTIVE ACTION: RESERVE FUEL WILL BE KEPT TO 30 MINS MINIMUM. STOP CLOCK WILL CONTINUE TO BE USED TO VALIDATE BURN RATE AND HELI WILL ONLY BE DIPPED ON LEVEL GND. PLTS WILL BE CAUTIONED TO MINIMIZE BANK IN TURNS WHEN APCHING RESERVE FUEL STATUS ESPECIALLY WHEN EXPERIENCING TURB.