What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot was performing aerial application operations. During a repositioning turn/maneuver, the pilot stated that the fuel pump/pressure warning light illuminated. The pilot abandoned the maneuver and headed for a nearby field. At this time, according to the pilot, the fuel pressure gauge indicated 0 and the quantity indicated 15 gallons. The pilot pulled the fuel boost (aft) breaker in an effort to reset the pump/warning. The engine then died and pilot initiated an autorotation maneuver to a field. Upon touchdown in the field, the application equipment came into contact with the vegetation of the field causing the aircraft to tip forward on the skids. During the tip, the tail boom came into contact with the main rotor causing the tail boom to separate from the aircraft. The aircraft was shutdown and secured by the pilot. The pilot sustained no injuries.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT WAS PERFORMING AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATIONS. DURING A REPOSITIONING TURN/MANEUVER, THE PILOT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP/PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE PILOT ABANDONED THE MANEUVER AND HEADED FOR A NEARBY FIELD. AT THIS TIME, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE FUEL PRESSURE GAUGE INDICATED 0 AND THE QUANTITY INDICATED 15 GALLONS. THE PILOT PULLED THE FUEL BOOST (AFT) BREAKER IN AN EFFORT TO RESET THE PUMP/WARNING. THE ENGINE THEN DIED AND PILOT INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION MANEUVER TO A FIELD. UPON TOUCHDOWN IN THE FIELD, THE APPLICATION EQUIPMENT CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE VEGETATION OF THE FIELD CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO TIP FORWARD ON THE SKIDS. DURING THE TIP, THE TAIL BOOM CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE MAIN ROTOR CAUSING THE TAIL BOOM TO SEPARATE FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SHUTDOWN AND SECURED BY THE PILOT. THE PILOT SUSTAINED NO INJURIES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.