Accident Overview
A flight instructor and his commercial rotorcraft student were conducting training exercises at a snow-covered, non-maintained airstrip. The student, who also held a commercial fixed-wing pilot certificate, was practicing quick stops to a hover at low altitude.
Sequence of Events
The student successfully performed three quick stops. On the fourth attempt, however, the helicopter's tail rotor struck the runway surface. The impact caused the tail rotor to separate from the aircraft.
Emergency Landing
Upon the tail rotor separation, the flight instructor took control of the helicopter and executed an emergency landing. The helicopter landed hard and subsequently rolled onto its right side.
Damage and Injuries
The helicopter sustained substantial damage as a result of the hard landing and rollover. Despite the severity of the accident, neither the flight instructor nor the student pilot was injured.