What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The operater was performing helicopter rides at the st. lucie county fair. While performing his 18th ride in a row, on departure at approximately 250 feet the engine began to sputter and to loose power. The pilot turned to return to the point of take-off. At this point the pilot was performing an auto-rotation and landed hard on the left side helicopter skid and came to a stop 21 feet past the initial point of contact. The pilot was not injured, but the 2 passnegers sustained minor injuries and seeked medical help the following day.
As the FAA filed it
THE OPERATER WAS PERFORMING HELICOPTER RIDES AT THE ST. LUCIE COUNTY FAIR. WHILE PERFORMING HIS 18TH RIDE IN A ROW, ON DEPARTURE AT APPROXIMATELY 250 FEET THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND TO LOOSE POWER. THE PILOT TURNED TO RETURN TO THE POINT OF TAKE-OFF. AT THIS POINT THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING AN AUTO-ROTATION AND LANDED HARD ON THE LEFT SIDE HELICOPTER SKID AND CAME TO A STOP 21 FEET PAST THE INITIAL POINT OF CONTACT. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED, BUT THE 2 PASSNEGERS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND SEEKED MEDICAL HELP THE FOLLOWING DAY.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.