Incident Overview
A helicopter experienced a hard landing while practicing an autorotation maneuver. The flight crew consisted of a certified flight instructor (CFI) and a commercial-rated pilot receiving flight instruction.
Maneuver Execution
According to the CFI, the commercial pilot initiated the autorotation, executed a 180-degree turn, and continued the descent. When the helicopter reached an altitude between 50 and 60 feet above ground level, the commercial pilot began the flare.
Yaw and Corrective Actions
Immediately after the flare, the helicopter began to yaw to the left. The CFI reported instructing the commercial pilot to correct the yaw and align the helicopter straight with the ground. The CFI stated that he "came on the cyclic" to ensure a straight track was achieved.
Outcome
A hard landing occurred. The impact resulted in the main rotor blades striking the tail rotor drive shaft and tailboom.