What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On 9-11-02 this aircraft experienced a complete hydraulic failure. The pilot stated he attempted to perform a landing with the airspeed at approximately 30 knots. The aircraft started to rotate and after 2 revolutions the pilot reduced the throttle in an attempt to stop the spin. From an altitude of approximately 15 to 25 feet the pilot attempted to autorotate. The aircraft landed hard resulting in the crosstubes rotating rearward in the saddles and breaking, the tailboom separating and the main rotor contacting the ground destroying the main rotor blades and star flex. During the crash sequence the fuel cell drain valve was damaged causing a fuel leak. On 9-19-02 an inspection was conducted on the hydaulic pump and splined coupler. The aluminum coupler showed evidence of spline smearing. Further examination will be conducted by the NTSB.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON 9-11-02 THIS AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE HYDRAULIC FAILURE. THE PILOT STATED HE ATTEMPTED TO PERFORM A LANDING WITH THE AIRSPEED AT APPROXIMATELY 30 KNOTS. THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO ROTATE AND AFTER 2 REVOLUTIONS THE PILOT REDUCED THE THROTTLE IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE SPIN. FROM AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 25 FEET THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO AUTOROTATE. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD RESULTING IN THE CROSSTUBES ROTATING REARWARD IN THE SADDLES AND BREAKING, THE TAILBOOM SEPARATING AND THE MAIN ROTOR CONTACTING THE GROUND DESTROYING THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES AND STAR FLEX. DURING THE CRASH SEQUENCE THE FUEL CELL DRAIN VALVE WAS DAMAGED CAUSING A FUEL LEAK. ON 9-19-02 AN INSPECTION WAS CONDUCTED ON THE HYDAULIC PUMP AND SPLINED COUPLER. THE ALUMINUM COUPLER SHOWED EVIDENCE OF SPLINE SMEARING. FURTHER EXAMINATION WILL BE CONDUCTED BY THE NTSB.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.