Factual Information
On 8 January 2016 at 10:10 local time, a SA 315 B helicopter (registration HB-XII) operated by Air Zermatt AG was involved in a training accident at Raron (LSTA). The flight was conducted under visual flight rules (VFR) and consisted of two parts: first, autorotations were practiced at altitude; second, autorotations from a hover were intended. The flight instructor held a Swiss commercial pilot license (CPL(H)) with 2,888 total flight hours, including 500 hours on type. The pilot held an Austrian private pilot license (PPL(H)) with 113 total hours, including 10 hours on type.
Sequence of Events
After the flight instructor demonstrated an autorotation from a hover, the pilot took control. The pilot hovered approximately half a meter above the ground. To operate the throttle lever on the SA 315 B, a hand change is required. The instructor, after giving the command "3-2-1," used his right hand to operate the throttle lever while his left hand was ready to grasp the cyclic. Following the command, the pilot rapidly lowered the collective, causing the helicopter to make a hard landing.
Damage and Injuries
The helicopter sustained minor damage, specifically to the landing damper. Neither the crew nor any third parties were injured. The two crew members were reported as not injured.
Discussion
The report notes that when initiating an autorotation in flight, the collective must be lowered immediately and fully. However, for an autorotation from a hover, landing is controlled by raising the collective. It is conceivable that the pilot reflexively performed the same reaction that had been trained during the earlier autorotations from altitude.