Incident Overview
A flight instructor was demonstrating air-taxi maneuvers to a student pilot in a Robinson R-22 helicopter. The instructor slowed the helicopter to about 10 knots ground speed while performing a descending turn. During this maneuver, the helicopter was oriented such that it experienced a tailwind.
Sequence of Events
As the helicopter "settled," the pilot attempted to arrest the descent but could not. The pilot then leveled the helicopter just prior to a hard landing. The impact caused the landing gear to collapse, the helicopter to roll over, and the main rotor blades to contact the ground.
Instructor's Report
The instructor reported that there were no deficiencies with the performance or handling characteristics of the helicopter.