Incident Overview
A helicopter experienced a hard landing during a practice autorotation maneuver, resulting in structural damage to the tail section. The event occurred during the third repetition of a power recovery autorotation initiated at 1,000 feet above ground level.
Sequence of Events
The training exercise began with a descent from 1,000 feet. At 100 feet above ground, with an airspeed of 70 knots, the pilot initiated the flare. During this phase, the pilot reported not noticing any change in torque or yaw, and later stated that he interpreted this as evidence that the engine had quit. The subsequent touchdown occurred at a forward speed higher than intended.
Damage Assessment
Upon landing, one of the main rotor blades struck the right vertical stabilizer. The impact caused the tail boom to collapse to the right side of the helicopter.
Engine Examination
Following the incident, the engine was inspected and all checks indicated that the engine was functioning normally. No mechanical anomalies were found.