Incident Summary
A flight instructor reported that during preparation for a helicopter commercial check ride, the pilot and instructor were practicing autorotation procedures. During the second autorotation, the rotor RPM dropped significantly, and the pilot began pulling up on the collective. The flight instructor immediately took over command of the flight controls and attempted to lower the collective.
Sequence of Events
The helicopter subsequently landed hard, bounced, yawed right, bounced again, and came to rest on the right side of the runway. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Damage and Findings
The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom. No other damage or injuries were reported. The instructor's account indicated that the hard landing resulted from the autorotation practice, with no mechanical issues contributing.