What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) The pilot stated that while enroute at approximately 600AGL, from hampton roads (pvg) to newport news (phf), he decided to demonstrate to his passenger an autorotation with a power recovery. He elected to perform the maneuver over sleepy hole golf course in Suffolk, VA. During the recovery phase of the manuever, the tail skid and tail rotor struck the edge of the driving range tee box separating the tail boom from the helicopter. The helicopter rolled down the side of the tee box coming to rest on its right side facing 180 degrees to the original flight path. The pilot received minor injuries; however, the passenger sustained serious injuries. The helicopter was destroyed beyond repair.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE ENROUTE AT APPROXIMATELY 600AGL, FROM HAMPTON ROADS (PVG) TO NEWPORT NEWS (PHF), HE DECIDED TO DEMONSTRATE TO HIS PASSENGER AN AUTOROTATION WITH A POWER RECOVERY. HE ELECTED TO PERFORM THE MANEUVER OVER SLEEPY HOLE GOLF COURSE IN SUFFOLK, VA. DURING THE RECOVERY PHASE OF THE MANUEVER, THE TAIL SKID AND TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE EDGE OF THE DRIVING RANGE TEE BOX SEPARATING THE TAIL BOOM FROM THE HELICOPTER. THE HELICOPTER ROLLED DOWN THE SIDE OF THE TEE BOX COMING TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE FACING 180 DEGREES TO THE ORIGINAL FLIGHT PATH. THE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES; HOWEVER, THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE HELICOPTER WAS DESTROYED BEYOND REPAIR.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.