What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Coyote hunt flight for doa. During pullup heard clunk lost pitch roll and vertical contol. Impacted tail first. (.4)while maneuvering at low level during a coyote hunting operation, a total loss of engine power occurred and the helicopter collided with trees during a forced landing to unsuitable terrain. Examination of the engine provided evidence of partial failure and/or total failure of the valve assemblies in all cylinders. Laboratory analysis revealed evidence of progressive failure in the valve seats. This was indicative of repeated overspeed of the engine. (-23)aircraft lost power at very low altitude while maneuvering. Aircraft hit tree on passenger side.
As the FAA filed it
COYOTE HUNT FLIGHT FOR DOA. DURING PULLUP HEARD CLUNK LOST PITCH ROLL AND VERTICAL CONTOL. IMPACTED TAIL FIRST. (.4)WHILE MANEUVERING AT LOW LEVEL DURING A COYOTE HUNTING OPERATION, A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER OCCURRED AND THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING A FORCED LANDING TO UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE PROVIDED EVIDENCE OF PARTIAL FAILURE AND/OR TOTAL FAILURE OF THE VALVE ASSEMBLIES IN ALL CYLINDERS. LABORATORY ANALYSIS REVEALED EVIDENCE OF PROGRESSIVE FAILURE IN THE VALVE SEATS. THIS WAS INDICATIVE OF REPEATED OVERSPEED OF THE ENGINE. (-23)AIRCRAFT LOST POWER AT VERY LOW ALTITUDE WHILE MANEUVERING. AIRCRAFT HIT TREE ON PASSENGER SIDE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.