Accident Details
Two commercial pilots were practicing touchdown autorotation landings at a private snow-covered airstrip. The purpose of the flight was for both pilots to maintain their proficiency. The first pilot had performed several straight-in touchdown autorotations prior to the accident.
Sequence of Events
During the last autorotation, the first pilot entered the maneuver at 800 feet above ground level (AGL) and approximately 80 knots. Throughout the descent, the pilot maintained an airspeed of 65 knots. A deceleration flare was initiated approximately 50 to 60 feet AGL. As the ground speed dissipated, the pilot leveled the helicopter, applied main rotor collective pitch, and touched down with a ground run of about 30 feet.
As the helicopter slowed to a stop, the pilot indicated that the helicopter shuddered several times. Subsequently, the main rotor blades struck the tail boom, severing the horizontal and vertical stabilizer and the tail rotor assembly from the tail boom.
Damage
The tail boom sustained damage from the main rotor blade strike, resulting in the separation of the horizontal and vertical stabilizer and the tail rotor assembly.