20120302003389A

On March 2, 2012, at approximately 1530, N101MZ was being operated by rogers helicopters (cucl) under 14 CFR § 133 and was conducting a external load operation in the area of Makakilo, oahu, Hawaii. The pilot had picked up a load of approximately 300 pounds in old materials from a remote site, to fly back to the yard using a 100' long line. As the pilot approached the drop off point at the yard, he slowed to approximately 10 to 15 knots and was in a stabilized descent at an altitude of approximately 150 feet AGL and within 150 feet from the drop point. At this point the pilot was concentrating on drop point and his head was looking out of the helicopter, he had the helicopter at low power due to the descent profile, it was during this time he heard a momentary, one second whining noise and felt a slight loss of lift. He turned his attention back into the cockpit and observed the engine chip RH caution light had illuminated and began to smell a burning odor. The pilot then immediately nosed the helicopter over to transition to forward flight and as soon as he was clear of personnel and vehicles in the yard, he released the external load. He continued to increase his forward air speed, and maintained the descent profile, he then made a 180 degree turn toward an area of dirt and grass that was being used for landing. As the pilot completed the 180 degree turn to the landing site, he began to increase collective and observed the torque to be approx 85 percent. As the helicopter hit the ground, it ran onto the dirt at approximately 50 feet and bounced twice on the uneven dirt terrain coming to an abrupt stop. The pilot did not detect a rotor blade strike or fuselage damage during this landing. Pilot immediately turned off both the engine fuel controls and fuel valves. The pilot observed that there was no fire present to the helicopter, and upon a visual inspection of the #2 engine; he observed separation of the exhaust and combustion tube.