The reporter, in a helicopter (as-350) hovering, experienced a power loss.

Attributes
ACN	314921
Time
Date	199508
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : fll
State Reference	FL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 3
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	other
Make Model Name	AS 350 Astar/Ecureuil
Operating Under FAR Part	other : other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	government other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 45 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	314921
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While flying a helicopter, I applied positive collective pitch, between 1-3 ft I observed a fuel pressure light, observed the fuel psi gauge move to a negative delta, heard the engine unspool, and simultaneously heard the low rotor horn. I executed a hovering automatic-rotation and nursed aircraft to the ground. No damage resulted and no injuries. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated the engine spooled down but did not completely fail. The mechanics found a chafed wire to the fuel pump that may have caused the problem. The helicopter is back flying now. Though the landing was off airport there were no problems with FAA or local auths. The incident created a great deal of interest as 8 helicopters of this make and model are in the organization and 3 more are on order. Any problem with the helicopter is thoroughly investigated for a variety of reasons.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: THE RPTR, IN A HELI (AS-350) HOVERING, EXPERIENCED A PWR LOSS.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING A HELI, I APPLIED POSITIVE COLLECTIVE PITCH, BTWN 1-3 FT I OBSERVED A FUEL PRESSURE LIGHT, OBSERVED THE FUEL PSI GAUGE MOVE TO A NEGATIVE DELTA, HEARD THE ENG UNSPOOL, AND SIMULTANEOUSLY HEARD THE LOW ROTOR HORN. I EXECUTED A HOVERING AUTO-ROTATION AND NURSED ACFT TO THE GND. NO DAMAGE RESULTED AND NO INJURIES. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE ENG SPOOLED DOWN BUT DID NOT COMPLETELY FAIL. THE MECHS FOUND A CHAFED WIRE TO THE FUEL PUMP THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE PROB. THE HELI IS BACK FLYING NOW. THOUGH THE LNDG WAS OFF ARPT THERE WERE NO PROBS WITH FAA OR LCL AUTHS. THE INCIDENT CREATED A GREAT DEAL OF INTEREST AS 8 HELIS OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL ARE IN THE ORGANIZATION AND 3 MORE ARE ON ORDER. ANY PROB WITH THE HELI IS THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.