What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot reported engine failure while transitioning from 1300' to 1500' enroute to helicopter practice area. There was no indication of any failure/problem. According to pilot, engine "just quit". They were approximately 3 miles south of Kona airport. Pilot was able to rotate aircraft 180 degrees into the wind and performed autorotation. Air restart attempt unsuccessful. Aircraft ditched approximately 30 feet off shore in 8'-10' of water. Upon aircraft recovery, inspected aircraft. Fuel system was intact and fuel was found in tank. There were no visible or obvious signs of cause of failure. Turned over to NTSB.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT REPORTED ENGINE FAILURE WHILE TRANSITIONING FROM 1300' TO 1500' ENROUTE TO HELICOPTER PRACTICE AREA. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANY FAILURE/PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO PILOT, ENGINE "JUST QUIT". THEY WERE APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES SOUTH OF KONA AIRPORT. PILOT WAS ABLE TO ROTATE AIRCRAFT 180 DEGREES INTO THE WIND AND PERFORMED AUTOROTATION. AIR RESTART ATTEMPT UNSUCCESSFUL. AIRCRAFT DITCHED APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET OFF SHORE IN 8'-10' OF WATER. UPON AIRCRAFT RECOVERY, INSPECTED AIRCRAFT. FUEL SYSTEM WAS INTACT AND FUEL WAS FOUND IN TANK. THERE WERE NO VISIBLE OR OBVIOUS SIGNS OF CAUSE OF FAILURE. TURNED OVER TO 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.