What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) While flying at 2,000 AGL from gillette to Buffalo, WY, the clutch light came on and the pilot smelled burning rubber. The pilot performed a power on autorotation and at about 50 feet above the ground, a loud pop was heard and the helicopter descended rapidly. The helicopter landed hard on soft ground and skidded approx. 15 feet. The right front skid broke off and the helicopter rolled over on its right side.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) WHILE FLYING AT 2,000 AGL FROM GILLETTE TO BUFFALO, WY, THE CLUTCH LIGHT CAME ON AND THE PILOT SMELLED BURNING RUBBER. THE PILOT PERFORMED A POWER ON AUTOROTATION AND AT ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, A LOUD POP WAS HEARD AND THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED RAPIDLY. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD ON SOFT GROUND AND SKIDDED APPROX. 15 FEET. THE RIGHT FRONT SKID BROKE OFF AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER ON ITS RIGHT 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.