19990130000929A

Riverside sherif's department 1993 MD-369E helicopter was on routine patrol when it reported engine problems and made an emergency landing in a field. Other circumstances are unknonw. (.19) on January 30, 1999, at 1545 hours pacific standard time, a Mcdonnell Douglas 369E, N992SD, landed hard after experiencing a loss of engine power near Lake Elsinore, californial. The aircraft was destroyed. The pilot and observer suffered minor injuries. The public-use helicopter was being operated by the riverside county sheriffs department as a routine law enforcement patrol at the time of the accident. The flight originated at the hemet-ryan airport in hemet, California, at 1505 and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot reported that she and the non-pilot rated observer were responding to a routine dispatch call and were flying about 550 to 650 feet AGL. She stated that the engine chip light (amber) became illuminated and she began looking for a landing site. She saw an open field and began turning toward it. The observer called the dispatch center and notified them that they had "engine problems." The pilot reported that during the turn, the engine- out light (red) became illuminated and the engine quit. She entered an autorotation by fully lowering the collective. The observer called dispatch and gave then a position report. The pilot reported that she remained focused on the landing site. The helicopter landed hard. Neither the pilot nor the observer recall the helicopter bouncing or having any forward movement after the landing. The pilot unfastened the observer's seat belt, then undid her own. She reported that the fuel shutoff valve handle was jammed and she was unable to turn it to the "off" position. She further reported that both doors were also jammed shut and they were not able to egress onthier own. Rescue personnel arrived within minutes of the accident and forced the doors open. (-23)'see attached' no attachment