CEN17LA113

The private pilot reported that he departed from his ranch and was flying about 100 ft above ground level and at 50 knots. He intended to position the carburetor heat to "on," but he inadvertently positioned the mixture control to the "fuel cutoff" position instead, and the engine lost total power. He immediately entered an autorotation, but because the helicopter was so low and slow, there was insufficient time and altitude to flare the helicopter. He stated that the airspeed decreased and that the main rotor blade stalled, which caused the helicopter to just "drop." The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot's inadvertent positioning of the mixture control to the "fuel cutoff" position resulted in fuel starvation and the total loss of engine power.

On February 9, 2017, about 1430 central standard time, a Bell – Transworld Helicopter 47D1, N2875F, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a field near Archer City, Texas. The pilot received serious injuries. The helicopter was owned and operated by the pilot under the provisions of the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed from the pilot's ranch near Holliday, Texas, about 1420. The pilot reported that he departed his ranch and was flying about 100 ft above ground level and at 50 knots airspeed to inspect a cattle herd near Archer, TX. He reported that he intended to check his carburetor heat to ON, but he unintendedly pulled the mixture control to the fuel cutoff position, and the engine had an immediate total loss of power. The pilot stated that he immediately entered an autorotation, but because he was so low and slow, there was not enough time and altitude to flare the helicopter. He stated that the airspeed decreased immediately and the main rotor blade stalled, causing the helicopter to just "drop." He stated that it only took seconds for the helicopter to impact the terrain. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.