What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot states that the flight departed 4A7 at approx 1410 local time. After approx 10 minutes, the pilot noticed that the oil temp was hot (just under red line) and tot was in yellow range. Pilot also states that fuel flow appeared to be higher than normal (30 gph as opposed to 23 gph normal). He noticed the fuel low level warning light blink and elected to return to the field and land. On fial approach to runway 24, airspeed approx 40 knots and at 80-100 feet AGL, the engine failed (noise reduction and low RPM warning light and horn). Pilot attempted an autorotation which resulted in a hard landing in grass area adjacent to runway. Aircraft rolled over on right side of fuselage. Main rotor contacted tail boom. Tail boom and tail rotor separated form aircraft. One blade of main rotor separated from hub. There was evidence of a small fire in engine compartment after landing, resulting in slight damage. Fuel tank still contained approximately nine (9) gallons of fuel after impact. All occupants exited the aircraft through the left entry door with no injuries.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT STATES THAT THE FLIGHT DEPARTED 4A7 AT APPROX 1410 LOCAL TIME. AFTER APPROX 10 MINUTES, THE PILOT NOTICED THAT THE OIL TEMP WAS HOT (JUST UNDER RED LINE) AND TOT WAS IN YELLOW RANGE. PILOT ALSO STATES THAT FUEL FLOW APPEARED TO BE HIGHER THAN NORMAL (30 GPH AS OPPOSED TO 23 GPH NORMAL). HE NOTICED THE FUEL LOW LEVEL WARNING LIGHT BLINK AND ELECTED TO RETURN TO THE FIELD AND LAND. ON FIAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 24, AIRSPEED APPROX 40 KNOTS AND AT 80-100 FEET AGL, THE ENGINE FAILED (NOISE REDUCTION AND LOW RPM WARNING LIGHT AND HORN). PILOT ATTEMPTED AN AUTOROTATION WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING IN GRASS AREA ADJACENT TO RUNWAY. AIRCRAFT ROLLED OVER ON RIGHT SIDE OF FUSELAGE. MAIN ROTOR CONTACTED TAIL BOOM. TAIL BOOM AND TAIL ROTOR SEPARATED FORM AIRCRAFT. ONE BLADE OF MAIN ROTOR SEPARATED FROM HUB. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF A SMALL FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT AFTER LANDING, RESULTING IN SLIGHT DAMAGE. FUEL TANK STILL CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY NINE (9) GALLONS OF FUEL AFTER IMPACT. ALL OCCUPANTS EXITED THE AIRCRAFT THROUGH THE LEFT ENTRY DOOR WITH NO INJURIES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.