Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 300; Flight Crew Total 1100; Flight Crew Type 800
Time Pressure
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Aircraft
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.
The Pilot of a R44 experienced an engine malfunction that resulted in an off airport landing.