What happened
During a fourth practice 180-degree autorotation maneuver, a student pilot was attempting a planned touchdown. The maneuver was initiated just south of the runway 36 numbers, intended to terminate between runway 36 and taxiway Alpha into the wind. The student called "throttle de-tent," signaling the intention to land.
As the pilot attempted a normal flare, the aircraft assumed a slight nose-low attitude upon leveling. This caused the unspecified helicopter to bounce slightly and yaw to the left. During this process, the left skid impacted the ground and dug into the surface. The aircraft continued to move with right sideward momentum, causing the skid to dig into the grass and resulting in a rollover.
Findings
- The student pilot over-rotated while leveling the helicopter during the flare phase.
- The aircraft's left skid impacted and dug into the ground surface.