What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-16) (4) On hovering autorotation to touchdown during a private pilot certification test, the applicant, who was on the flight controls, reduced the throttle to flight idle, entered autorotation, and rapidly raised the collective. He then rolled the throttle back to "full". Causing rotation and rolled onto its side. It was estimated by the inspector administering the test that the helicopter rotated at least 8 times before ground impact. The inspector also reported that the applicant had "froze" on the controls. The applicant failed the flight test.
As the FAA filed it
(-16) (4) ON HOVERING AUTOROTATION TO TOUCHDOWN DURING A PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATION TEST, THE APPLICANT, WHO WAS ON THE FLIGHT CONTROLS, REDUCED THE THROTTLE TO FLIGHT IDLE, ENTERED AUTOROTATION, AND RAPIDLY RAISED THE COLLECTIVE. HE THEN ROLLED THE THROTTLE BACK TO "FULL". CAUSING ROTATION AND ROLLED ONTO ITS SIDE. IT WAS ESTIMATED BY THE INSPECTOR ADMINISTERING THE TEST THAT THE HELICOPTER ROTATED AT LEAST 8 TIMES BEFORE GROUND IMPACT. THE INSPECTOR ALSO REPORTED THAT THE APPLICANT HAD "FROZE" ON THE CONTROLS. THE APPLICANT FAILED THE FLIGHT TEST.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.