What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.19) On February 21, 2002, about 1330 hours pacific standard time, a Robinson R22 beta, N8045K, experienced a loss of engine power while maneuvering over a mountain peak near Glendora, California. The pilot autorotated to a soft touchdown on the uneven mountainside whereupon the helicopter rolled over. Neither the commercial certificated pilot nor the second pilot was injured. The helicopter was operated by the universal air academy, inc., el monte, California, and it was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The personal flight was performed under 14 CFR part 91, and it originated from el monte about 1300. According to the two pilots, they had performed a preflight inspection prior to taking off, and all systems were found functional. During the flight the second pilot performed an orbit around a mountain peak, about 2,900 feet mean sea level. Nearing the conclusion of the second orbit, the helicopter suddenly commenced descending. The first pilot, who possessed a certified flight instructor certificate, took the controls. At the time, both pilots observed that the main rotor and engine RPM had decreased to between 80 AND90 percent. No low rotor warning horn was heard, and no annunciator light was observed. Also, neither pilot reported having felt any unusual vibration. The first pilot reported that he turned into the wind and autorotated to a landing. The touchdown was soft. Seconds later, the helicopter rolled over on the hilly terrain. (-23) on February 21, 2002, at approximately 1330 helicopter was operating in the san gabriel, CA mountains when pilot noticed a sudden engine and rotor RPM decrease. Subsequently, aircraft lost power, directional control, collided with hilly terrain and rolled on it's right side. Pilot and passenger were able to evacuate aircraft without injury. Amendment: during the reexam, 44709 process, both pilots confirmed that it was agreed before the flight that Mr. Diaz would be the PIC for the flight. CFI helsch did take the controls during the landing. privacy data omitted
As the FAA filed it
(.19) ON FEBRUARY 21, 2002, ABOUT 1330 HOURS PACIFIC STANDARD TIME, A ROBINSON R22 BETA, N8045K, EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE MANEUVERING OVER A MOUNTAIN PEAK NEAR GLENDORA, CALIFORNIA. THE PILOT AUTOROTATED TO A SOFT TOUCHDOWN ON THE UNEVEN MOUNTAINSIDE WHEREUPON THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER. NEITHER THE COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATED PILOT NOR THE SECOND PILOT WAS INJURED. THE HELICOPTER WAS OPERATED BY THE UNIVERSAL AIR ACADEMY, INC., EL MONTE, CALIFORNIA, AND IT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS PERFORMED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91, AND IT ORIGINATED FROM EL MONTE ABOUT 1300. ACCORDING TO THE TWO PILOTS, THEY HAD PERFORMED A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION PRIOR TO TAKING OFF, AND ALL SYSTEMS WERE FOUND FUNCTIONAL. DURING THE FLIGHT THE SECOND PILOT PERFORMED AN ORBIT AROUND A MOUNTAIN PEAK, ABOUT 2,900 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL. NEARING THE CONCLUSION OF THE SECOND ORBIT, THE HELICOPTER SUDDENLY COMMENCED DESCENDING. THE FIRST PILOT, WHO POSSESSED A CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATE, TOOK THE CONTROLS. AT THE TIME, BOTH PILOTS OBSERVED THAT THE MAIN ROTOR AND ENGINE RPM HAD DECREASED TO BETWEEN 80 AND90 PERCENT. NO LOW ROTOR WARNING HORN WAS HEARD, AND NO ANNUNCIATOR LIGHT WAS OBSERVED. ALSO, NEITHER PILOT REPORTED HAVING FELT ANY UNUSUAL VIBRATION. THE FIRST PILOT REPORTED THAT HE TURNED INTO THE WIND AND AUTOROTATED TO A LANDING. THE TOUCHDOWN WAS SOFT. SECONDS LATER, THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER ON THE HILLY TERRAIN. (-23) ON FEBRUARY 21, 2002, AT APPROXIMATELY 1330 HELICOPTER WAS OPERATING IN THE SAN GABRIEL, CA MOUNTAINS WHEN PILOT NOTICED A SUDDEN ENGINE AND ROTOR RPM DECREASE. SUBSEQUENTLY, AIRCRAFT LOST POWER, DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, COLLIDED WITH HILLY TERRAIN AND ROLLED ON IT'S RIGHT SIDE. PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE ABLE TO EVACUATE AIRCRAFT WITHOUT INJURY. AMENDMENT: DURING THE REEXAM, 44709 PROCESS, BOTH PILOTS CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS AGREED BEFORE THE FLIGHT THAT MR. DIAZ WOULD BE THE PIC FOR THE FLIGHT. CFI HELSCH DID TAKE THE CONTROLS DURING THE LANDING. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.