Incident Overview
On January 15, 2022, at approximately 1230 Pacific standard time, a Bell 205A-1 helicopter, registration N502HQ, sustained substantial damage following an accident near El Cajon, California. The helicopter was being operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight instructor and the pilot receiving instruction were not injured.
Sequence of Events
The flight instructor reported that he was demonstrating an autorotation to the pilot receiving instruction as part of the company's flight training program. The instructor initiated the autorotation at an altitude between 1,500 and 2,000 feet above ground level and reduced the engine power to flight idle during the descent. When the helicopter reached its power recovery altitude, the instructor attempted to increase engine power, but the engine did not respond. He attempted to recover engine power three additional times without success. Subsequently, the instructor committed to a touchdown autorotation. Upon touchdown, the helicopter rocked forward and then aft on its skids, resulting in the main rotor blades striking the tailboom. The tailboom sustained substantial damage.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination of the engine, governor, and fuel control was conducted. This examination included a full engine run in accordance with the engine manufacturer's overhaul manual, a full vibration analysis with all parameters within limits, a functional test of the governor to check flow rates and reaction time moving from each parameter to another, a functional test of the fuel regulator emergency solenoid, acceleration flow rate checks, inspection of main components of the computer assembly, and a borescope inspection. The examination revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.