What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot was making approach to open field site with three passengers plus himself on board. Temp was approx 55F, pa 6100 MSL, hald tanks of fuel, headed into wind. As pilot attempted to terminate to a hover at 20 feet AGL he noted low rotor RPM and low RPM audio sounded. He attempted to roll on throttle to regain RPM but aircraft settled landing in small revine and rolling over on side. Damage to main fuselage frame, tail boom landing gear and main rotor. Minor injuries to pilot, no other injuries. Based on available information aircraft weight was 2215 lbs, hover oge limit for the conditions is 2340 lbs.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT WAS MAKING APPROACH TO OPEN FIELD SITE WITH THREE PASSENGERS PLUS HIMSELF ON BOARD. TEMP WAS APPROX 55F, PA 6100 MSL, HALD TANKS OF FUEL, HEADED INTO WIND. AS PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TERMINATE TO A HOVER AT 20 FEET AGL HE NOTED LOW ROTOR RPM AND LOW RPM AUDIO SOUNDED. HE ATTEMPTED TO ROLL ON THROTTLE TO REGAIN RPM BUT AIRCRAFT SETTLED LANDING IN SMALL REVINE AND ROLLING OVER ON SIDE. DAMAGE TO MAIN FUSELAGE FRAME, TAIL BOOM LANDING GEAR AND MAIN ROTOR. MINOR INJURIES TO PILOT, NO OTHER INJURIES. BASED ON AVAILABLE INFORMATION AIRCRAFT WEIGHT WAS 2215 LBS, HOVER OGE LIMIT FOR THE CONDITIONS IS 2340 LBS.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.