What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) While conducting a practical test for issuance of a private pilot certificate, the pilot examiner retarded the throttle to the engine idle stop to simulate a power failure in accordance with area of operation viii, task b. of the practical test standard. The aircraft was in cruise flight at approximately 2,000 feet AGL. The pilot examiner stated that after the applicant lowered the collective pitch to enter autorotation he cross checked the engine tachometer which indicated between 2,000 and 2,200 RPM. During the autorotational descent, he noticed the absence of engine noise, looked down and observed the engine tachometer indicating zero. The pilot examiner stated that he came on the flight controls with the applicant and instructed the applicant to engage the starter to attempt to restart the engine. The pilot examiner stated that as they approached the area he had selected for the power off landing, he realized it was a mud pond. He adjusted the touchdown point and attempted a landing on a berm. The aircraft touched down hard, slid off the edge of the berm, and rolled over.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) WHILE CONDUCTING A PRACTICAL TEST FOR ISSUANCE OF A PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE, THE PILOT EXAMINER RETARDED THE THROTTLE TO THE ENGINE IDLE STOP TO SIMULATE A POWER FAILURE IN ACCORDANCE WITH AREA OF OPERATION VIII, TASK B. OF THE PRACTICAL TEST STANDARD. THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 2,000 FEET AGL. THE PILOT EXAMINER STATED THAT AFTER THE APPLICANT LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE PITCH TO ENTER AUTOROTATION HE CROSS CHECKED THE ENGINE TACHOMETER WHICH INDICATED BETWEEN 2,000 AND 2,200 RPM. DURING THE AUTOROTATIONAL DESCENT, HE NOTICED THE ABSENCE OF ENGINE NOISE, LOOKED DOWN AND OBSERVED THE ENGINE TACHOMETER INDICATING ZERO. THE PILOT EXAMINER STATED THAT HE CAME ON THE FLIGHT CONTROLS WITH THE APPLICANT AND INSTRUCTED THE APPLICANT TO ENGAGE THE STARTER TO ATTEMPT TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE PILOT EXAMINER STATED THAT AS THEY APPROACHED THE AREA HE HAD SELECTED FOR THE POWER OFF LANDING, HE REALIZED IT WAS A MUD POND. HE ADJUSTED THE TOUCHDOWN POINT AND ATTEMPTED A LANDING ON A BERM. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD, SLID OFF THE EDGE OF THE BERM, AND ROLLED OVER.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.