ROTARY WINGED TFC INCIDENT AS ACFT DAMAGED WHEN TRAINING IN PROGRESS DETERIORATES DUE TO A LANGUAGE BARRIER PROBLEM.

Narrative

ON 9/90; I WAS INTRODUCED TO A STUDENT PREPARING FOR A COMMERCIAL HELI/ROTOCRAFT (ADDITIONAL) RATING. I WAS TO CONDUCT A FINAL FLT CHK WITH THE STUDENT IN PREPARATION FOR HIS FAA PRACTICAL TEST. THE STUDENT WAS A JAPANESE NATIONAL. HIS ENGLISH WAS POOR SO INSTRUCTIONS WERE GIVEN IN A SIMPLIFIED FORMAT. (IE; HOVER FORWARD; STOP; DO YOU UNDERSTAND; ETC). I BRIEFED THE STUDENT WHAT THE FLT WOULD ENCOMPASS. I REVIEWED SAFETY POINTS AND REMINDED THE STUDENT THAT I WOULD ASSIST HIM AS NECESSARY. IN ADDITION; SHOULD I ANNOUNCE 'I HAVE THE CTLS' HE SHALL RELINQUISH THE CTLS TO ME. THE STUDENT'S DEMONSTRATION OF AUTO ROTATION TO A PWR RECOVERY DID NOT MEET COMMERCIAL STANDARDS. I INSTRUCTED THE STUDENT TO FOLLOW ALONG WITH ME ON THE CTLS AS I DEMONSTRATED AN AUTO ROTATION WITH PWR RECOVERY TO A 3 FT HOVER. AT ALT; I INITIATED THE AUTO ROTATION. DURING THE DSCNT I EXPLAINED THAT PORTION OF THE MANEUVER. AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME I INITIATED A FLARE AND PWR. I NOTICED A PWR LAG AND ATTEMPTED TO ADD ADDITIONAL PWR BY USE OF THE THROTTLE; I LEVELED THE ACFT AND NOTED A HVY CYCLIC. THE STUDENT'S GRIP ON THE CTLS WAS INTERFERING WITH MY CTL INPUTS. I CALLED FOR THE STUDENT TO RELEASE THE CTLS. HOWEVER; WITH THE STUDENT ON THE CTLS AND INSUFFICIENT PWR REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE MANEUVER; LNDG WAS IMMINENT. IN THE PROCESS SOME ROTOR RPM WAS LOST. AFTER LNDG; THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE FLEXED AND STRUCK THE TAIL ROTOR. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: SOME CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WHICH MAY HAVE PLAYED A PART IN THIS INCIDENT: LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL DIFFERENCES HINDERED THE LEARNING PROCESS; AND COCKPIT CREW COORD. THE STUDENT FAILED TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS AND RELINQUISH THE CTLS OF THE ACFT WHEN DIRECTED TO DO SO.