What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Helicopter was taking off from small hospital landing area. Upon takeoff, pilot noticed partial power loss/engine failure. Pilot commenced an autorotation, at less than 100' AGL. Helicopter contacted the ground slightly to the right and hard. Maintenance inspection determined that the direct cause was a disconnection of trim actuator rod.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) HELICOPTER WAS TAKING OFF FROM SMALL HOSPITAL LANDING AREA. UPON TAKEOFF, PILOT NOTICED PARTIAL POWER LOSS/ENGINE FAILURE. PILOT COMMENCED AN AUTOROTATION, AT LESS THAN 100' AGL. HELICOPTER CONTACTED THE GROUND SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT AND HARD. MAINTENANCE INSPECTION DETERMINED THAT THE DIRECT CAUSE WAS A DISCONNECTION OF TRIM ACTUATOR ROD.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.