What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The pilot was en route to a field where he would begin a 14 CFR part 137 aerial application operation. While in cruise flight at approximately 400 feet, the pilot experienced vibrations and sudden powerloss. The pilot entered autorotation, turned into wind, and touched down beside a dirt road next to an agricultural field. During the ground run, the right skid contacted soft soil, resulting in main rotorblade ground contact, and rolling the helicopter onto its right side where it came to rest. The aircraft received substantial damage and the pilot was uninjured.
As the FAA filed it
THE PILOT WAS EN ROUTE TO A FIELD WHERE HE WOULD BEGIN A 14 CFR PART 137 AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATION. WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 400 FEET, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED VIBRATIONS AND SUDDEN POWERLOSS. THE PILOT ENTERED AUTOROTATION, TURNED INTO WIND, AND TOUCHED DOWN BESIDE A DIRT ROAD NEXT TO AN AGRICULTURAL FIELD. DURING THE GROUND RUN, THE RIGHT SKID CONTACTED SOFT SOIL, RESULTING IN MAIN ROTORBLADE GROUND CONTACT, AND ROLLING THE HELICOPTER ONTO ITS RIGHT SIDE WHERE IT CAME TO REST. THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND THE PILOT WAS UNINJURED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.