NTSB Factual Report

On November 13, 2005, about 1530 mountain standard time, a Rotorway 162F, N321JN, made a hard landing near Chandler, Arizona. The pilot was operating the helicopter under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The personal flight departed Phoenix, Arizona, about 1500, with a planned destination of Chandler, Arizona. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

In a written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board the pilot stated that he made a hard landing after suffering a loss of engine power in flight. The pilot fueled the helicopter with automotive fuel from cans in the morning prior to practicing in the traffic pattern for 1 hour at Phoenix Regional Airport. He landed, refueled from the same fuel source he had in the morning, and departed to Chandler. About 5 minutes into the flight, the pilot experienced a decrease in engine power and a drop in rotor rpm every time he raised the collective. He selected a landing site and chose to make an emergency landing. The pilot began an autorotation about 1,000 feet above ground level and maneuvered toward his landing area, which was a water retention basin surrounded by trees. After just clearing the trees, and about 30 feet off the ground, he began a flare and touched down, stopping the helicopter within 20 feet. He exited the helicopter and noticed he had lost a tail rotor blade and the tail boom had a stress wrinkle in it. The pilot towed the helicopter back to his home and discovered rust and water in a fuel sample taken from the aircraft and the containers used to refuel the helicopter. There were no other indications of anything else that could have caused the loss of power.

The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

a loss of engine power due to fuel contamination (rust, water) as a result of the pilot's inadequate preflight planning preparation.