Accident Details
A helicopter engaged in an instructional flight preparing for a student pilot's evaluation scheduled the following day. The flight instructor was teaching maneuvers including settling with power, straight-in autorotations, 180-degree autorotations, hovering autorotations, and quick stops. The student pilot was manipulating the controls throughout the flight.
Sequence of Events
The student initiated an autorotation at approximately 1,300 feet above ground level (agl). When the helicopter descended to about 100 feet agl, the instructor directed the student to initiate a recovery flare. At around 50 feet agl, the instructor took over the controls and executed the flare. During the flare, the helicopter contacted the ground with its tail skid, followed by the left skid, and subsequently rolled over onto its left side.
Aftermath
The helicopter sustained substantial damage to its main rotor blades, cabin, and drivetrain. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.