What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On July 9, 2003, at 5:50PM, American helicopters, inc, pilot richard k. thielman experienced a complete engine failure while enroute from sleetmute, AK to aniak, AK. Upon entering an auto rotation, the pilot selected a landing site, made a mayday on 122.1 and was immediately responded to by his fixed wing pilot carrying his crew. He gave his position and informed them he had an engine failure. At contact with the first tree, the pilot flared hard, hit hard and bounced. The tail boom slapped him to the ground where the aircraft stayed upright. No injuries, no passengers, no fire and no fluids were present. Aircraft had 42 gallons of fuel on board at time of accident.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON JULY 9, 2003, AT 5:50PM, AMERICAN HELICOPTERS, INC, PILOT RICHARD K. THIELMAN EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE WHILE ENROUTE FROM SLEETMUTE, AK TO ANIAK, AK. UPON ENTERING AN AUTO ROTATION, THE PILOT SELECTED A LANDING SITE, MADE A MAYDAY ON 122.1 AND WAS IMMEDIATELY RESPONDED TO BY HIS FIXED WING PILOT CARRYING HIS CREW. HE GAVE HIS POSITION AND INFORMED THEM HE HAD AN ENGINE FAILURE. AT CONTACT WITH THE FIRST TREE, THE PILOT FLARED HARD, HIT HARD AND BOUNCED. THE TAIL BOOM SLAPPED HIM TO THE GROUND WHERE THE AIRCRAFT STAYED UPRIGHT. NO INJURIES, NO PASSENGERS, NO FIRE AND NO FLUIDS WERE PRESENT. AIRCRAFT HAD 42 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD AT TIME OF ACCIDENT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.