What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Aircraft departed (oak) to go to (hwd) to perform 180 degree autorotations at the request of primary instructor. Student had problems managing the airspeed, RPM and keeping the helicopter in trim. Student initiated an 180 degree autorotation. Student started a shallow turn and pulled the collective to much decreasing rotor RPM. Student lowered the nose to increase rotor rmp, which increased a relatively high airspeed out of trim. At this point the CFI took control of the helicopter, but was too close to the ground to recover. CFI initiated a flare, but given the descent rate impacted the ground. (.19) on October 17, 2002, at 1812 pacific daylight time, a Schweizer 269C, N61416, landed hard and rolled over while practicing autorotations at Hayward executive airport, Hayward, California. The helicopter was operated by sierra academy of aeronautics under the provisions of 14 CFR part 91 for the local area instructional flight. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The certified flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at oakland at 1730. The federal aviation administration inspector reported that the helicopter started an autorotation during a turn beginning the maneuver approximately 500 feet above ground level (AGL). The inspector further reported that as the helicopter hit the ground the tail was broken off.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) AIRCRAFT DEPARTED (OAK) TO GO TO (HWD) TO PERFORM 180 DEGREE AUTOROTATIONS AT THE REQUEST OF PRIMARY INSTRUCTOR. STUDENT HAD PROBLEMS MANAGING THE AIRSPEED, RPM AND KEEPING THE HELICOPTER IN TRIM. STUDENT INITIATED AN 180 DEGREE AUTOROTATION. STUDENT STARTED A SHALLOW TURN AND PULLED THE COLLECTIVE TO MUCH DECREASING ROTOR RPM. STUDENT LOWERED THE NOSE TO INCREASE ROTOR RMP, WHICH INCREASED A RELATIVELY HIGH AIRSPEED OUT OF TRIM. AT THIS POINT THE CFI TOOK CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER, BUT WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE GROUND TO RECOVER. CFI INITIATED A FLARE, BUT GIVEN THE DESCENT RATE IMPACTED THE GROUND. (.19) ON OCTOBER 17, 2002, AT 1812 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A SCHWEIZER 269C, N61416, LANDED HARD AND ROLLED OVER WHILE PRACTICING AUTOROTATIONS AT HAYWARD EXECUTIVE AIRPORT, HAYWARD, CALIFORNIA. THE HELICOPTER WAS OPERATED BY SIERRA ACADEMY OF AERONAUTICS UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91 FOR THE LOCAL AREA INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT. THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT PILOT WERE NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT OAKLAND AT 1730. THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT THE HELICOPTER STARTED AN AUTOROTATION DURING A TURN BEGINNING THE MANEUVER APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL (AGL). THE INSPECTOR FURTHER REPORTED THAT AS THE HELICOPTER HIT THE GROUND THE TAIL WAS BROKEN OFF.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.