What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On 9/13/00 the a/c was spraying for the bergen county mosquito commission. The pilot claimed he just finished his run and was heading for the heliport. The pilot further claimed the engine chip light came on and went out. He considered flying to teterboro airport but the engine quit at 40-60 feet above the ground. The pilot initiated a auto-rotation at about 80 knots. On landing the main rotor blades struck a 3 to 4 inch diameter tree. Damage to both main rotor blades and both sides of the tail boom was observed. With electric power applied to the a/c it was noted the fuel gauge indicated zero fuel remaining in the tank.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON 9/13/00 THE A/C WAS SPRAYING FOR THE BERGEN COUNTY MOSQUITO COMMISSION. THE PILOT CLAIMED HE JUST FINISHED HIS RUN AND WAS HEADING FOR THE HELIPORT. THE PILOT FURTHER CLAIMED THE ENGINE CHIP LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT OUT. HE CONSIDERED FLYING TO TETERBORO AIRPORT BUT THE ENGINE QUIT AT 40-60 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE PILOT INITIATED A AUTO-ROTATION AT ABOUT 80 KNOTS. ON LANDING THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK A 3 TO 4 INCH DIAMETER TREE. DAMAGE TO BOTH MAIN ROTOR BLADES AND BOTH SIDES OF THE TAIL BOOM WAS OBSERVED. WITH ELECTRIC POWER APPLIED TO THE A/C IT WAS NOTED THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED ZERO FUEL REMAINING IN THE TANK.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.