What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Engine fail (.4)the pilot-in-command lifted off the helipad vertically to an altitude of 30 feet at which time he experienced a power loss. He backed up the helicopter 20 feet and allowed it to yaw to the right as it descended to the helipad. He landed on the helipad hard with low rotor RPM. Inspection of the engine revealed the gear and spline assembly in the reduction gearbox had stripped thereby disconnecting the gearbox from the turbine section.
As the FAA filed it
ENGINE FAIL (.4)THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND LIFTED OFF THE HELIPAD VERTICALLY TO AN ALTITUDE OF 30 FEET AT WHICH TIME HE EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS. HE BACKED UP THE HELICOPTER 20 FEET AND ALLOWED IT TO YAW TO THE RIGHT AS IT DESCENDED TO THE HELIPAD. HE LANDED ON THE HELIPAD HARD WITH LOW ROTOR RPM. INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE GEAR AND SPLINE ASSEMBLY IN THE REDUCTION GEARBOX HAD STRIPPED THEREBY DISCONNECTING THE GEARBOX FROM THE TURBINE SECTION.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.