Accident Overview
During a flight instruction session, a helicopter lost engine power at approximately 200 feet above ground level (agl) while the certified flight instructor (CFI) was demonstrating a normal approach. The engine failure occurred when the helicopter's airspeed was below 50 knots. The CFI immediately initiated an autorotation, but the helicopter touched down with a high rate of descent, resulting in a hard landing.
Flight Details
An FAA inspector interviewed the pilot, who reported that the engine quit at 200 feet agl and below 50 knots airspeed. According to the rotorcraft flight manual's height/velocity performance chart, at 200 feet agl the helicopter must be above 50 knots to perform a successful autorotation. The CFI entered the autorotation maneuver, but the descent rate at touchdown was excessive.
Post-Accident Examination
After the accident, an engine test run was conducted. No mechanical anomalies were identified during the test run, indicating that the engine operated normally under controlled conditions.