What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Landed hard main rotor struck tailboom. (.4)the CFI was having the second pilot execute straight in aurorotations for familiarization training. The second pilot initiated the aurorotation with the rotor in the low range and the CFI instructed the second pilot to reduce collective, which increased their rate ot descent. The CFI said that about 18 feet, the second pilot applied 60 percent collective, leveled somewhat, and the nose yawed to the left. The CFI applied full right pedal in an attempt to correct the yaw, but the nose remained yawed to the left approximately 15 degrees. The aircraft hit the ground with the left heel first followed by the nose pitching forward. The CFI stated he applied slight aft cyclic and felt the main rotor contact the tail boom.
As the FAA filed it
LANDED HARD MAIN ROTOR STRUCK TAILBOOM. (.4)THE CFI WAS HAVING THE SECOND PILOT EXECUTE STRAIGHT IN AUROROTATIONS FOR FAMILIARIZATION TRAINING. THE SECOND PILOT INITIATED THE AUROROTATION WITH THE ROTOR IN THE LOW RANGE AND THE CFI INSTRUCTED THE SECOND PILOT TO REDUCE COLLECTIVE, WHICH INCREASED THEIR RATE OT DESCENT. THE CFI SAID THAT ABOUT 18 FEET, THE SECOND PILOT APPLIED 60 PERCENT COLLECTIVE, LEVELED SOMEWHAT, AND THE NOSE YAWED TO THE LEFT. THE CFI APPLIED FULL RIGHT PEDAL IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE YAW, BUT THE NOSE REMAINED YAWED TO THE LEFT APPROXIMATELY 15 DEGREES. THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE GROUND WITH THE LEFT HEEL FIRST FOLLOWED BY THE NOSE PITCHING FORWARD. THE CFI STATED HE APPLIED SLIGHT AFT CYCLIC AND FELT THE MAIN ROTOR CONTACT THE TAIL BOOM.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.