What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) While in cruise at 1600 ft. MSL the clutch light came on. It remained on for longer than 7 seconds, at which time the pilot in command pulled the circuit breaker in accordance with the emergency checklist. He executed a 180 degree turn looking for a place to land, and while descending the cockpit filled with smoke. At about 1100 feet, the pilot noticed a low RPM light and horns were going off. He then lowered the collective pitch and entered autorotation. At 30 feet he started to flare for landing, and at 5 feet pulled the full collective and landed the aircraft hard. Both occupants exited the aircraft, and the pilot with the fire bottle attempted to extinguish the fire. After emptying the bottle, the local fire department arrived and smothered the fire.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) WHILE IN CRUISE AT 1600 FT. MSL THE CLUTCH LIGHT CAME ON. IT REMAINED ON FOR LONGER THAN 7 SECONDS, AT WHICH TIME THE PILOT IN COMMAND PULLED THE CIRCUIT BREAKER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EMERGENCY CHECKLIST. HE EXECUTED A 180 DEGREE TURN LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO LAND, AND WHILE DESCENDING THE COCKPIT FILLED WITH SMOKE. AT ABOUT 1100 FEET, THE PILOT NOTICED A LOW RPM LIGHT AND HORNS WERE GOING OFF. HE THEN LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE PITCH AND ENTERED AUTOROTATION. AT 30 FEET HE STARTED TO FLARE FOR LANDING, AND AT 5 FEET PULLED THE FULL COLLECTIVE AND LANDED THE AIRCRAFT HARD. BOTH OCCUPANTS EXITED THE AIRCRAFT, AND THE PILOT WITH THE FIRE BOTTLE ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. AFTER EMPTYING THE BOTTLE, THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND SMOTHERED THE FIRE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.