What happened
The accident occurred during a training flight involving two certified flight instructors. The crew was conducting a practice autorotation, a standard emergency procedure used to land a helicopter safely after an engine failure. During the maneuver, the instructor pilot responsible for controlling the aircraft delayed the application of power needed to arrest the autorotative descent. A second pilot on board noted that the profile of the autorotation did not match previous successful attempts. Despite the lack of mechanical issues that would have prevented power recovery, the delay resulted in a crash.
The investigation
Examination of the flight crew revealed that both individuals were qualified and current as flight instructors. There were no reported aircraft problems or mechanical failures that would have hindered the ability to recover from the autorotation. The investigation focused on the timing of the power application during the critical phase of the maneuver.
Findings
The primary factor in this accident was the delayed application of power by the instructor pilot. This error prevented the timely arrest of the descent rate, leading to impact with the ground. The discrepancy in the autorotation profile reported by the other pilot suggests a deviation from standard operating procedures during the recovery phase.
Safety message
This incident highlights the critical importance of precise timing and adherence to established profiles during emergency procedure training. Instructors must ensure that power application occurs at the correct altitude and airspeed to guarantee a safe recovery.