What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Narrative: pilot stated in phone interview that after refueling helicopter with a total of 30 gallons, he and his passenger departed a backyard located in the fox hollow subdivision. Departure time was approximately 1800 to 1815 EDT. Fuel was purchased from an amoco and 93 octane automotive fuel was used. Shortly after clearing some high tension power lines at approximately 200 feet AGL, the helicopter entered a slight r/h turn, descending. At that point, the low rotor RPM light and horn activated. The pilot stated that he lowered the collective and attempted to add power. A vibration began to occur "like it lost a jug". The helicopter continued to lose altitude and rotor RPM. Pilot reported that the throttle felt stiff. Pilot notified passenger that "we're going down". Helicopter landed in the water and rolled onto its left side. Both occupants had seat belts and shoulder harnesses on. Both occupants safety exited the right side of the helicopter and swam fifty to sixty feet to shore. Pilot reported approximately 20 gallons of fuel remaining at time of incident. Unable to verify this due to water contamination. Pilot weighs approximately 235 to 240 pounds. Passenge r weighs approximately 190 pounds.
As the FAA filed it
NARRATIVE: PILOT STATED IN PHONE INTERVIEW THAT AFTER REFUELING HELICOPTER WITH A TOTAL OF 30 GALLONS, HE AND HIS PASSENGER DEPARTED A BACKYARD LOCATED IN THE FOX HOLLOW SUBDIVISION. DEPARTURE TIME WAS APPROXIMATELY 1800 TO 1815 EDT. FUEL WAS PURCHASED FROM AN AMOCO AND 93 OCTANE AUTOMOTIVE FUEL WAS USED. SHORTLY AFTER CLEARING SOME HIGH TENSION POWER LINES AT APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET AGL, THE HELICOPTER ENTERED A SLIGHT R/H TURN, DESCENDING. AT THAT POINT, THE LOW ROTOR RPM LIGHT AND HORN ACTIVATED. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE AND ATTEMPTED TO ADD POWER. A VIBRATION BEGAN TO OCCUR "LIKE IT LOST A JUG". THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO LOSE ALTITUDE AND ROTOR RPM. PILOT REPORTED THAT THE THROTTLE FELT STIFF. PILOT NOTIFIED PASSENGER THAT "WE'RE GOING DOWN". HELICOPTER LANDED IN THE WATER AND ROLLED ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE. BOTH OCCUPANTS HAD SEAT BELTS AND SHOULDER HARNESSES ON. BOTH OCCUPANTS SAFETY EXITED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HELICOPTER AND SWAM FIFTY TO SIXTY FEET TO SHORE. PILOT REPORTED APPROXIMATELY 20 GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINING AT TIME OF INCIDENT. UNABLE TO VERIFY THIS DUE TO WATER CONTAMINATION. PILOT WEIGHS APPROXIMATELY 235 TO 240 POUNDS. PASSENGE R WEIGHS APPROXIMATELY 190 POUNDS.
Other reports on N23428 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.