20200730011579A

On 7/30/2020 at approximately 2100 PDT, the pilot claims that engine power was lost while nearly complete with a 180 degree turn back (a turn from the north to the south) towards the field being sprayed during a part 137 operation. This course reversal maneuver involved a climb from approximately 30 feet above ground level (AGL) to 80 feet AGL, then a relatively steep angle of bank to the left to perform the turn and line back up with the field to dispense agricultural related spray. The pilot states that the helicopter?s engine stopped (complete loss of power) moments before the completion of this turn ? Since the pilot?s attention must be directed outside the helicopter in order to perform this maneuver (especially at night) he did not have the time to confirm this power loss with indications on the instrument panel. The pilot noticed the loss of engine power due to the sudden lack of engine noise. At that point the pilot leveled the aircraft and attempted to cushion the landing with the collective as he descended rapidly toward a dirt road in front of the aircraft. This road is immediately bordered on the south side by a wall of hay bales. As the pilot flared the aircraft and began to pull collective to cushion the crash landing, the helicopter overshot the road and descended onto the wall of hay bales. The helicopter came to rest against the hay bales and on the dirt road. The pilot turned off the master battery switch and egressed the helicopter out of the pilot door.