Incident Overview
A helicopter engaged in recurrent training experienced a tail boom damage event following a hovering autorotation maneuver. The flight crew included a foreign-rated pilot, a flight instructor, and an interpreter-observer seated in the rear. The training flight had already completed several maneuvers before the autorotation was attempted.
Sequence of Events
During the training session, the foreign pilot performed a hovering autorotation under direction from the flight instructor, with instructions translated by the interpreter. As the helicopter descended, it yawed slightly to the right and settled onto the ground. The instructor and observer reported that the landing did not feel excessively hard, describing it instead as a firm or rough landing. Despite this, the training continued with several additional autorotations before the flight concluded.
Post-Flight Findings
During a routine post-flight inspection, wrinkles were observed on the tail boom of the helicopter. A more detailed examination subsequently revealed that the tail boom had sustained substantial damage. The exact extent of the damage was not specified in the initial report, but the term "substantial" indicates significant structural compromise.
Training Context
The helicopter was being used for recurrent training, which typically involves practicing emergency procedures and maneuvers to maintain pilot proficiency. The presence of a flight instructor and an interpreter suggests that the training involved a pilot from a different language background. No further details about the aircraft type, registration, or operator were provided in the source.