This thread had lapsed, so sorry to just now add my comment. I was likely the first here to know of this, being this happened close to home, but I wanted to get first-hand info before posting. I am acquainted with the pilots in the KCPD helicopter unit, some fairly well, and one is a good friend. We met recently, so I got a fair idea of the happenings. My friend is one of the instructors in the unit. They train internally from zero-time, starting with existing officers on the force. The CFIs go to the MD factory for training. The goal is commercial certificates with IR.
There were two on board, both pilots, "K" with about 5 years/2000 hours, the other "B", a FW pilot who will soon be ready for a RW checkride. My friend says "K" is the future of the unit, very professional, studious, observant, etc., and is also working toward a CFI certificate. I'm well acquainted with him, and he's also a calm, in-control guy, not readily rattled, and a very friendly guy, too. They were on routine patrol, about 800AGL, when there was a power loss. My understanding is gages were heading down toward bad numbers. With the collective bottomed, the gages came back up. At this point, there had been an estimated 300 foot loss. When pitch was pulled again, the behavior was the same, a loss of power. The pilot realized that he wasn't going to be able to nurse it home (about 4 miles) and went into auto-mode with the intent of landing. "B" made a low-key radio call that they were going down.
The next day, "K" related very good detail and recollection. He had asked the PNF if he had changed anything, touched the throttle, etc. and was assured that he had not. He thinks the whole experience lasted about 25 seconds. Fareastdriver noted the landing on the wrong side of the road, and it happens that it was a deliberate choice by "K" due to the moving obstacles on the "runway".
The approximate conditions were clear, mid-evening (still decent daylight), ISA+18, about 3500 DA. I believe they landed east, as the wind was easterly that day, though it probably wasn't much, with buildings and trees around, and evening. That may have contributed to the run-on.
The PD does a great amount of auto training, both run-on and zero groundspeed, to the ground. (I haven't asked about average lifespan of skid shoes.) They do it with throttle rolled back, and throttle left alone. I would think that as much as you can possibly train, it never simulates closely enough, and there must be a second or two of disbelief with a real power loss, as the Nr drops. BTW, regarding a long-running thread, the pilot did use the back-cyclic technique, not just dumping the pole.
The maintenance personnel haven't found any problems, nor could they reproduce the behavior on the ground.
My friend hovered it for 45 minutes, then flew it another 90. The best guess is the governor went on holiday.
A goofy sidenote, the ground officers responding put caution tape around the bird and closed streets. An inebriated driver came by, thought nothing odd about the whole scene, and tried to drive around it.
He got a complimentary ride to jail.
If I hear anything new and important, I'll post it. I'm certain all involved want to know "why".