What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.19)On June 3, 2001, at 1015 central daylight time, an experimental helicopter, RI 162F, N242KA, sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain following a loss of engine power after takeoff from a farm field near Jerseyville, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. (-23) on 06-03-01 after departing a private helicopter landing area, at approximately 200 feet AGL the appropriately rated and certificated pilot noticed the engine tach reading zero and experienced failure of the number one fadec engine computer. The PIC made a 180 degree turn and headed back to the landing area. At about 100 feet AGL and about 40 mph, the secondary fadec system failed, resultin in a complete engine stoppage. The PIC attempted an autorotation to a landing, and struck the tail boom stinger and tail rotor on landing. The skids stuck in the mud resulting in the aircraft rolling onto its right side. The pilot exited the aircraft with minor injuries. The aircraft suffered substantial damage to the tail boom and rotor, main rotor blades, and landing gear skids.
As the FAA filed it
(.19)ON JUNE 3, 2001, AT 1015 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, AN EXPERIMENTAL HELICOPTER, RI 162F, N242KA, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE ON IMPACT WITH TERRAIN FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AFTER TAKEOFF FROM A FARM FIELD NEAR JERSEYVILLE, ILLINOIS. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE 14 CFR PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS NOT OPERATING ON A FLIGHT PLAN. THE PILOT REPORTED NO INJURIES. THE LOCAL FLIGHT WAS ORIGINATING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. (-23) ON 06-03-01 AFTER DEPARTING A PRIVATE HELICOPTER LANDING AREA, AT APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET AGL THE APPROPRIATELY RATED AND CERTIFICATED PILOT NOTICED THE ENGINE TACH READING ZERO AND EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE NUMBER ONE FADEC ENGINE COMPUTER. THE PIC MADE A 180 DEGREE TURN AND HEADED BACK TO THE LANDING AREA. AT ABOUT 100 FEET AGL AND ABOUT 40 MPH, THE SECONDARY FADEC SYSTEM FAILED, RESULTIN IN A COMPLETE ENGINE STOPPAGE. THE PIC ATTEMPTED AN AUTOROTATION TO A LANDING, AND STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM STINGER AND TAIL ROTOR ON LANDING. THE SKIDS STUCK IN THE MUD RESULTING IN THE AIRCRAFT ROLLING ONTO ITS RIGHT SIDE. THE PILOT EXITED THE AIRCRAFT WITH MINOR INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE TAIL BOOM AND ROTOR, MAIN ROTOR BLADES, AND LANDING GEAR SKIDS.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.