Well, just to keep a discussion going (other than Bellford
instruments) I have not had an actual engine failure, but a very good
friend of mine had two engine failures within his first 200 hours of
helicopter flying. One engine failure happened one day after his
commercial helicopter check ride. He was very practiced at autos and
this engine failure happened at 1,000 feet over a large dry lake with
15 knots of wind on the nose. Prefect condidtions and a perfect
auto! Interestingly enough this auto was near carson city and the
occupant of the nearest house had just sold his MD 500 and had a
trailer could transport a MD500 (the type of machine my frend was
flying)! Within 45 minutes of the auto the ship was loaded on to a
trailer and heading back to the shop.

His other engine failure was after start and while he was rolling the
throttle up to 100% the engine came apart.

On Apr 22, 8:24 am, Ol Shy & Bashful wrote:
Besides the autorotations done in and for training pruposes, how many
of you have had to do an unplanned auto as in engine failure,
mechanical failure, or other in flight difficulties?
I've had at least five over the past 40 years just while doing aerial
application in Bell and Hiller helicopters.
Just a curious question for a Sunday morning.....
Rocky