What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On July 28 pilotprivacy data omitted determined the helicopter needed fuel. He was unsure about the fuel quantity so he put in 2-3 gallons of fuel. While flying/ taxiing to the fuel point the pilot diverted around the fuel point because of the number of people there. While in a hover approximately 10-12 feet AGL (due to gusting winds) and 725 feet due west the pilot stated the engine quit and the helicopter dropped to the ground. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the left side landing gear, all main rotor blades, main rotor head, tail boom and tail rotor blades/ system.
As the FAA filed it
ON JULY 28 PILOT^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ DETERMINED THE HELICOPTER NEEDED FUEL. HE WAS UNSURE ABOUT THE FUEL QUANTITY SO HE PUT IN 2-3 GALLONS OF FUEL. WHILE FLYING/ TAXIING TO THE FUEL POINT THE PILOT DIVERTED AROUND THE FUEL POINT BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THERE. WHILE IN A HOVER APPROXIMATELY 10-12 FEET AGL (DUE TO GUSTING WINDS) AND 725 FEET DUE WEST THE PILOT STATED THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE HELICOPTER DROPPED TO THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT SIDE LANDING GEAR, ALL MAIN ROTOR BLADES, MAIN ROTOR HEAD, TAIL BOOM AND TAIL ROTOR BLADES/ SYSTEM.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N46MU · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.