What happened
A pilot was undergoing a flight test for a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) certificate accompanied by an FAA inspector. During the flight, the inspector instructed the pilot to execute a practice 180-degree autorotation, which was intended to conclude with a power recovery.
At 650 feet above ground level, the pilot entered the maneuver; at this stage, the rotor RPM remained within the green arc, though the needles split and the engine stabilized at 2,000 RPM. As the maneuver progressed, the inspector observed that the helicopter appeared to be on a trajectory to overshoot the intended termination point.
When the aircraft reached approximately 50 feet above ground level, the pilot initiated deceleration, causing the helicopter to begin settling. The inspector noted that there had been no audible increase in engine RPM. Concerned that the throttle had not been applied, the inspector took control of the aircraft and attempted to open the throttle. Despite these efforts, the aircraft continued to settle and made a hard touchdown approximately 100 feet beyond the termination point. The helicopter bounced once, pitched forward, and experienced a second impact before rolling tail over nose and coming to rest on its right side.
The investigation
A postaccident inspection of the aircraft was conducted. Investigators found no discrepancies in the engine or the power controls.