Incident Overview
A flight instructor was providing primary helicopter instruction to a fixed-wing pilot on how to conduct 180-degree autorotations. According to the instructor, the pilot entered the flare lower to the ground than usual and began to descend. By the time the instructor noticed the high rate of descent, it was too late for him to recover, and he was only able to apply full-up collective to cushion the impact.
Sequence of Events
The helicopter landed hard, causing the skids to spread. During the landing, the main rotor blades flexed downward and severed the tailboom. The instructor reported that the pilot's flare was initiated lower than typical, leading to a rapid descent that could not be corrected in time.
Damage
The helicopter sustained damage including spread skids and a severed tailboom due to main rotor blade contact.
Training Context
The flight was part of primary helicopter instruction for a fixed-wing pilot, focusing on 180-degree autorotations—a maneuver simulating power failure and requiring precise flare timing.