What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Company pilot/cfi was instructing second company pilot. Hovering autorotations from five foot altitude were being practiced. On the third touchdown, the pilots noted noise and vibrations. An exterior inspection revealed a collapsed tailboom with substantial damage. No main rotor strike was noted. The tailboom damage was the same as to the type of damage caused by a hard landing. The ELT activated and noted by the tower. Both pilots indicate a normal landing was accomplished.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) COMPANY PILOT/CFI WAS INSTRUCTING SECOND COMPANY PILOT. HOVERING AUTOROTATIONS FROM FIVE FOOT ALTITUDE WERE BEING PRACTICED. ON THE THIRD TOUCHDOWN, THE PILOTS NOTED NOISE AND VIBRATIONS. AN EXTERIOR INSPECTION REVEALED A COLLAPSED TAILBOOM WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. NO MAIN ROTOR STRIKE WAS NOTED. THE TAILBOOM DAMAGE WAS THE SAME AS TO THE TYPE OF DAMAGE CAUSED BY A HARD LANDING. THE ELT ACTIVATED AND NOTED BY THE TOWER. BOTH PILOTS INDICATE A NORMAL LANDING WAS ACCOMPLISHED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.