20020916038599A

(-23) Instructor and student were to do a simulated engine failure during take-off. There was a thorough briefing between the two prior to execution. The helicopter took off over taxiway d and the instructor announced the engine failure prior to rolling off the throttle at approximately 70-80 ft. above the surface in a level attitude at 55-60 KIAS. The student immediately lowered the collective, applied aft cyclic, prevented any yaw with right pedal, and rolled the throttle past the detent. Despite the briefing that forward cyclic to increase forward airspeed to 65 KIAS would be required, the student believes that muscle memory took over with decreased collective, aft cyclic and right pedal initiating actions practiced earlier in the flight. The student believes he pulled up on the collective to prevent settling just before he remembered he was supposed to apply forward cyclic to increase the airspeed to 65 KIAS in order to have an effective flare at the end of autorotation. They believe this caused the main rotor rpm's to deteriorate to the point of main rotor stall. Because of the amount of collective applied during a quick stop maneuver the instructor was unable to override the student's hole on the collective. The aircraft came down in a level attitude but unknown forward airspeed. An attempt was made to conduct a cyclic flare near the surface. Descending velocity could not be arrested and forward cyclic input was used to level the aircraft and pedals to keep the nose pointed forward. The aircraft contacted the taxiway with some forward travel. The tailcone was probably severed by the slowly spinning main rotor. The aircraft bounced up and yawed to the left. The right skid heel caught the grass and snapped off the skid. The aircraft came to rest on the edge of the taxiway and partially in the grass. The instructor turned off the fuel and electrical and he and the student exited the aircraft.