Incident Summary
A pilot reported an incident that occurred while practicing full autorotations. The maneuver was intended to demonstrate a 180-degree autorotation to the ground for the aircraft owner, who is also a private helicopter pilot.
Sequence of Events
According to the pilot's account, during the turn toward the touchdown spot, the rotor RPM began to decay. In an attempt to recover the RPM, the pilot initiated the flare early, before completing the turn. However, the helicopter responded poorly, mushing through the flare and impacting the ground at a high rate of descent. The impact caused damage to the rear cross tube of the helicopter.
Post-Impact Behavior
Immediately following the ground impact, the helicopter became airborne again. The pilot then applied collective to conclude the autorotation, resulting in the helicopter being in an upright position.
Damage Assessment
The only damage noted in the report was to the rear cross tube. No other damage or injuries were mentioned.