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Helicopter Damaged During Autorotation Demonstration

Glendale, AZ, United States

On May 27, 2011, a BELL 206B3 operated by N57AW LLC was involved in an aviation accident near Glendale, AZ. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The certified flight instructor was late rolling on the throttle during a power-on autorotation demonstration, resulting in insufficient rotor RPM to recover before ground impact. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

A flight instructor conducting a power-on autorotation demonstration with a student was late on throttle, resulting in insufficient rotor RPM and a hard landing that damaged the tail rotor drive shaft and main rotor blades.

Incident Overview

A certified flight instructor was conducting a training flight with a student pilot in a helicopter. The purpose of the flight was to demonstrate various maneuvers. Near the end of the flight, the instructor performed a demonstration of a power-on autorotation. During this maneuver, the instructor was late in rolling on the throttle. As a result, the helicopter did not have sufficient rotor RPM to recover before impacting the ground.

Damage Assessment

Upon ground impact, the helicopter sustained damage to its tail rotor drive shaft and main rotor blades. No other damage was reported.

Pilot Report

The instructor reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The helicopter was operating as expected prior to the incident.

Conclusion

The accident was attributed to the instructor's delayed throttle application during the autorotation demonstration, which prevented adequate rotor RPM recovery.

Probable cause

The certified flight instructor was late rolling on the throttle during a power-on autorotation demonstration, resulting in insufficient rotor RPM to recover before ground impact.

Contributing factors

Instructor/check pilotIncorrect use/operationProp/rotor parameters — Not attained/maintained

Related events

Same aircraft family

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 27 May 2011 BELL 206B3 accident near Glendale, AZ?

A flight instructor conducting a power-on autorotation demonstration with a student was late on throttle, resulting in insufficient rotor RPM and a hard landing that damaged the tail rotor drive shaft and main rotor blades.

Were there any fatalities in the 27 May 2011 BELL 206B3 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 27 May 2011 involved a BELL 206B3, operated by N57AW LLC, at Glendale, AZ.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The certified flight instructor was late rolling on the throttle during a power-on autorotation demonstration, resulting in insufficient rotor RPM to recover before ground impact.

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