What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Engine quit on climbout 200 ft AGL unable auto landed hard. Intake valve rocker shaft came loose. New engine. (.4) during takeoff, the helicopter lost power and landed hard. Postaccident examination revealed the no. 2 cylinder intake valve rocker shaft migrated out of the shaft bosses of the cylinder head. The shaft, cover, and nuts were found; the washers were not. According to owner/pilot there were internal star washer imprints on the cover plate commonly caused by torque or tightening of the nut. The helicopter had 61.5 total hours since new, and received one 50-hour inspection since delivery to the owner/pilot. The owner/pilot changed the oil and filter just prior to the inspection.
As the FAA filed it
ENGINE QUIT ON CLIMBOUT 200 FT AGL UNABLE AUTO LANDED HARD. INTAKE VALVE ROCKER SHAFT CAME LOOSE. NEW ENGINE. (.4) DURING TAKEOFF, THE HELICOPTER LOST POWER AND LANDED HARD. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THE NO. 2 CYLINDER INTAKE VALVE ROCKER SHAFT MIGRATED OUT OF THE SHAFT BOSSES OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. THE SHAFT, COVER, AND NUTS WERE FOUND; THE WASHERS WERE NOT. ACCORDING TO OWNER/PILOT THERE WERE INTERNAL STAR WASHER IMPRINTS ON THE COVER PLATE COMMONLY CAUSED BY TORQUE OR TIGHTENING OF THE NUT. THE HELICOPTER HAD 61.5 TOTAL HOURS SINCE NEW, AND RECEIVED ONE 50-HOUR INSPECTION SINCE DELIVERY TO THE OWNER/PILOT. THE OWNER/PILOT CHANGED THE OIL AND FILTER JUST PRIOR TO THE INSPECTION.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.