On September 7, 1994, a Schweizer 269C (registration N61245) was involved in an aviation accident near Grand Forks, ND. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot-in-command's (CFI) delayed recovery from a practice autorotation. A factor associated with the accident was the student pilot's improper autorotation. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a simulated emergency autorotation, a helicopter landed hard after the flight instructor and student failed to arrest the descent. Postaccident inspection found no mechanical anomalies.
Incident Overview
A flight instructor (CFI) and a student pilot were conducting simulated emergency autorotations with power recovery. During the accident autorotation, the CFI adjusted the engine power to 3100 RPM and directed the student to initiate the recovery procedure.
Sequence of Events
The CFI observed that the helicopter's descent had not been arrested. He then joined the student on the flight controls and attempted to perform the autorotation. The helicopter subsequently landed hard.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident inspection of the helicopter and its engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomalies.