Incident Overview
A flight instructor was conducting a cross-country training flight with a student. The instructor reported that he intended to demonstrate an emergency autorotation to an open plateau. The autorotation itself was executed successfully, according to the instructor.
Sequence of Events
Following the autorotation, the instructor made a right pedal turn to taxi the helicopter back. When he applied left pedal to stop the yaw, the low rotor RPM horn sounded. In response, he lowered the collective and rolled on the throttle as the helicopter settled to the ground.
Damage Details
The left skid impacted the ground first. This impact bent the left aft skid support tube, and the force transmitted through the structure, bending and deforming the fuselage structure. No other damage was reported.
Operational Context
The maneuver took place at an open plateau with an elevation of approximately 7,000 feet. The flight was a training exercise. The instructor did not specify the aircraft type, registration, or operator. No other persons or aircraft were involved.