ERA18TA076

The commercial pilot was conducting a cross-country flight in an experimental amateur-built helicopter that was equipped with an automobile engine. When the airplane was about 6 miles from the destination and at a cruise altitude of 500 ft above ground level, the engine sputtered once and then lost all power. The pilot performed an autorotation into a low-lying valley with short trees. During the landing, the main and tail rotors contacted the trees, resulting in substantial damage. Postaccident testing revealed that one of the two electric fuel pumps did not operate when direct current was applied to it, indicating that the pump had failed during flight. According to the manufacturer, both fuel pumps are to be used for takeoff and landing, but only one fuel pump is necessary during cruise flight. The pilot was using one fuel pump during cruise flight, and the fuel pump that failed was likely the one in use at the time. The fuel pump failure resulted in fuel starvation and a subsequent total loss of engine power.

On January 28, 2018, about 1530 eastern standard time, an experimental, amateur-built Vertical Aviation Technologies 260L Hummingbird helicopter, N4045, operated by the commercial pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, following a total loss of engine power during cruise flight near Harrisville, New York. The commercial pilot was not injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight that originated from Potsdam Municipal Airport (PTD), Potsdam, New York, about 1500. The flight was destined to the pilot's private residence in Harrisville, New York.The pilot reported that helicopter was 6 miles from the destination at 500 feet above ground level, when the engine sputtered once and then lost all power. The pilot performed an autorotation into a low-lying valley with short trees. During the landing, the main rotor and tailrotor contacted trees, resulting in substantial damage. The landing gear also sustained damage. The helicopter was assembled in 2010 and equipped with a Chevrolet LS3 engine. At the time of the accident, the airframe and engine had accumulated 456.8 total hours of operation. The helicopter's most recent annual inspection was completed October 29, 2017. The helicopter had flown 5.3 hours from the time of that inspection, until the accident. Examination of the wreckage and testing of an electric fuel pump (one of two Airtex External Electric Fuel Pump, model No. E8445) by the pilot revealed that one of the two electric fuel pumps did not operate when direct current was applied to it. The pilot added that the operating manual stated that both fuel pumps should be on for takeoff and landing; however, only one fuel pump is required for cruise flight. The pilot added that it would have been safer to have both fuel pumps on at all times.