What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
During approach to landing at the Hillsboro Airport (hio) the pilot noticed engine and rotor fluctuating instrument indications. The pilot heard the low rotor RPM warning horn and observed the low rotor RPM warning light. The pilot determined that the engine was unresponsive, was at a low altitude during approach and elected to autorotate to the available open field under the flight path. The aircraft touched down left skid low and rolled to the left side. No injuries to the pilot or passenger. Aircraft substantially damaged.
As the FAA filed it
DURING APPROACH TO LANDING AT THE HILLSBORO AIRPORT (HIO) THE PILOT NOTICED ENGINE AND ROTOR FLUCTUATING INSTRUMENT INDICATIONS. THE PILOT HEARD THE LOW ROTOR RPM WARNING HORN AND OBSERVED THE LOW ROTOR RPM WARNING LIGHT. THE PILOT DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE WAS UNRESPONSIVE, WAS AT A LOW ALTITUDE DURING APPROACH AND ELECTED TO AUTOROTATE TO THE AVAILABLE OPEN FIELD UNDER THE FLIGHT PATH. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN LEFT SKID LOW AND ROLLED TO THE LEFT SIDE. NO INJURIES TO THE PILOT OR PASSENGER. AIRCRAFT SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.