LAX86FA243

Factual narrative

THE HELICOPTER HAD JUST DEPARTED RUNWAY 05. GROUND WITNESSES AND SEVERAL OCCUPANTS IN THE HELICOPTER REPORTED THAT WHEN IT WAS ABOUT 150 FT AGL IT SUSTAINED A TOTAL ENGINE POWER LOSS. THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY ENTERED INTO AN ABRUPT RIGHT TURN AUTOROTATION. THE AIRPORT IS LOCATED ON A PLATEAU AND THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN SLOPES DOWNWARD. THE HELICOPTER CRASHED ABOUT 100 YARDS EAST OF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. POST-IMPACT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DISCLOSED IT WAS NOT OPERATING AT IMPACT. THE ENGINE OPERATED NORMALLY WHEN TESTED DURING THE INVESTIGATION. THE AIRFRAME FUEL FILTER CONTAINED DISCOLORED FUEL AND SOME CONTAMINATES; THE FUEL DOWNSTREAM, HOWEVER, WAS FREE OF ANY DISCOLORATION AND/OR CONTAMINATES. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12