Incident Overview
A pilot was conducting practice maneuvers at an airport, intending to perform autorotations and hovering. The pilot began executing 360-degree hovers in the practice area. During one of these hovers, control of the helicopter was lost, leading to a hard landing.
Damage and Conditions
The hard landing caused the helicopter's skids to split and the tail boom to bend. According to the pilot, there were no mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter. Wind gusts were reported at the time of the accident, which the pilot believed contributed to the loss of control.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that he was practicing autorotations and hovering upon arrival at the airport practice area. The maneuvers included 360-degree hovers. The pilot attributed the loss of control to the wind gusts present during the incident.