What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On November 3, 2015, a Hughes 369D helicopter, N510PA, experienced an engine failure resulting in a hard landing and substantial damage to the aircraft. The flight was being operated under part 133 by olympic air, inc, gill.
The pilot stated that he was conducting sling operations using a 50-foot line to gather cedar pieces. After about 30 to 40 slings, the engine lost power. The pilot entered an autorotation but was unable to land on level terrain and the helicopter touched down on the side of a hill. The tailboom impacted first, followed by the skids at which point the aircraft rolled on to its side.
The pilot was the only person on board the aircraft and was uninjured. Local crew on the ground assisted the pilot in exiting the helicopter.
As the FAA filed it
ON NOVEMBER 3, 2015, A HUGHES 369D HELICOPTER, N510PA, EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FAILURE RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING AND SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. THE FLIGHT WAS BEING OPERATED UNDER PART 133 BY OLYMPIC AIR, INC, GILL.
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS CONDUCTING SLING OPERATIONS USING A 50-FOOT LINE TO GATHER CEDAR PIECES. AFTER ABOUT 30 TO 40 SLINGS, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION BUT WAS UNABLE TO LAND ON LEVEL TERRAIN AND THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN ON THE SIDE OF A HILL. THE TAILBOOM IMPACTED FIRST, FOLLOWED BY THE SKIDS AT WHICH POINT THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED ON TO ITS SIDE.
THE PILOT WAS THE ONLY PERSON ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT AND WAS UNINJURED. LOCAL CREW ON THE GROUND ASSISTED THE PILOT IN EXITING THE HELICOPTER.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.