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The pilot of a R44 experienced an engine malfunction that resulted in an off airport landing.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1297595 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201509 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Robinson R44 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Engine |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Flight Instructor |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 300 Flight Crew Total 1100 Flight Crew Type 800 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical |
Narrative:
I leveled off at approximately 800 feet approximately 3 to 4 minutes into a part 91 tour at which point I noticed my engine tachometer had dropped to zero and a sputtering sound was coming from the engine. Immediately by low RPM warning horn came on for the main rotor. I reduced collective and tried to maintain rotor RPM and initiated 180deg auto rotation. I informed my passenger that we would be making an emergency landing. I approached the landing area at approximately 65 knots and put in aft cyclic to induce a flare at approximately 25 feet AGL in an unimproved grass field; started to pull collective to cushion impact. I leveled the aircraft and continue to raise the collective until impacting. The helicopter bounced approximately 15 feet and settled into the grass. I checked my passenger to ensure he was ok; then applied the rotor brake to stop the main rotor. Once main rotor was stop I got out of the helicopter and check for damage. No visible damage was found. I contacted the company operation center to coordinate a helicopter to pick up my passenger. After approximately 20 minutes I conducted a thorough preflight inspection of the aircraft to include all fluids finding nothing I attempted to restart the aircraft. I was able to restart the aircraft but the engine was not operating correctly to warrant flight. It would start but continually tried to die. I was picked up by an additional company aircraft and my aircraft remains in the field waiting for further guidance from the company.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: The Pilot of a R44 experienced an engine malfunction that resulted in an off airport landing.
Narrative: I leveled off at approximately 800 feet approximately 3 to 4 minutes into a part 91 tour at which point I noticed my engine tachometer had dropped to zero and a sputtering sound was coming from the engine. Immediately by low RPM warning horn came on for the main rotor. I reduced collective and tried to maintain rotor RPM and initiated 180deg auto rotation. I informed my passenger that we would be making an emergency landing. I approached the landing area at approximately 65 knots and put in aft cyclic to induce a flare at approximately 25 feet AGL in an unimproved grass field; started to pull collective to cushion impact. I leveled the aircraft and continue to raise the collective until impacting. The helicopter bounced approximately 15 feet and settled into the grass. I checked my passenger to ensure he was OK; then applied the rotor brake to stop the main rotor. Once main rotor was stop I got out of the helicopter and check for damage. No visible damage was found. I contacted the Company operation center to coordinate a helicopter to pick up my passenger. After approximately 20 minutes I conducted a thorough preflight inspection of the aircraft to include all fluids finding nothing I attempted to restart the aircraft. I was able to restart the aircraft but the engine was not operating correctly to warrant flight. It would start but continually tried to die. I was picked up by an additional company aircraft and my aircraft remains in the field waiting for further guidance from the company.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.