What happened
During a training flight, the student pilot executed three successful autorotations that concluded with a hover. On the fourth attempt, the aircraft touched down forcefully while experiencing a yaw to the left. The flight instructor attempted to correct the drift but was unable to prevent the helicopter from impacting the ground. This impact resulted in damage to the tail boom.
The investigation
Neither the flight instructor nor the student pilot reported any mechanical deficiencies regarding the helicopter at the time of the incident. The aircraft appeared mechanically sound based on their assessments.
Findings
The accident was not reported immediately following the initial event. Disclosure occurred only after the flight instructor was involved in a similar accident involving the same helicopter approximately 30 days later.