FTW95LA011

During a cross country flight the pilot heard a loud noise and felt severe vibrations. He entered an autorotation and selected an open field to land; however, he under shot the intended touchdown point and struck some trees. The pilot reported that the vibration may have been due to a bird strike.

On October 10, 1994, at 1430 central daylight time, a Hughes 269C helicopter, N9616F, was destroyed during a forced landing. The commercial pilot and pilot rated passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 CFR Part 91 business flight.

The pilot initially reported to a local law enforcement officer that he suspected that he had collided with a bird and the engine quit. He later stated that he was in cruise flight between 900 and 1,000 feet when he heard a loud bang followed by a severe vibration accompanied by a right and a left yaw. The pilot reported that he entered an autorotation, but ended up under shooting the landing area and struck several trees. In his enclosed report he reported that the vibration may have been the result of a bird strike.

Examination of the helicopter at the site by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed the following. Physical evidence pointed to the helicopter under shooting an open field, and entering the trees in a tail low attitude. The battery switch was still in the on position, and the low fuel warning light was illuminated. There was no evidence of a fuel spillage and no fuel was found in the right fuel cell.