What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Helicopter was working traffic to west sod practice area and while turning crosswind at approximately 300 AGL, called mayday and crashed just outside airport property, Salina, ks/ (.4) the accident occurred during a test flight after an annual inspection. The pilot reported that after takeoff at an altitude of about 300 feet above the ground with an airspeed of 50 miles per hour, the engine lost power. The pilot performed an autorotation during which he turned to miss obstacles. The helicopter impacted the terrain and rolled over. Post accident inspection revealed the fuel pump contained corrosion. The fuel injector contained a white powdery substance in most every port. The fuel injector finger screen was also corroded. (-23) aircraft was flying out of west sod practice area. While turning crosswind at approximately 300 AGL, called "mayday" and crashed in an easterly direction just outside airport property. Pilot sustained serious injuries. Pilot reported engine failure.
As the FAA filed it
HELICOPTER WAS WORKING TRAFFIC TO WEST SOD PRACTICE AREA AND WHILE TURNING CROSSWIND AT APPROXIMATELY 300 AGL, CALLED MAYDAY AND CRASHED JUST OUTSIDE AIRPORT PROPERTY, SALINA, KS/ (.4) THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING A TEST FLIGHT AFTER AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 300 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND WITH AN AIRSPEED OF 50 MILES PER HOUR, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT PERFORMED AN AUTOROTATION DURING WHICH HE TURNED TO MISS OBSTACLES. THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE TERRAIN AND ROLLED OVER. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THE FUEL PUMP CONTAINED CORROSION. THE FUEL INJECTOR CONTAINED A WHITE POWDERY SUBSTANCE IN MOST EVERY PORT. THE FUEL INJECTOR FINGER SCREEN WAS ALSO CORRODED. (-23) AIRCRAFT WAS FLYING OUT OF WEST SOD PRACTICE AREA. WHILE TURNING CROSSWIND AT APPROXIMATELY 300 AGL, CALLED "MAYDAY" AND CRASHED IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION JUST OUTSIDE AIRPORT PROPERTY. PILOT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. PILOT REPORTED ENGINE FAILURE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.