What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Instructional flight on the downwind pattern at gpt was preparing for a practice autorotation, when the engine failed. Instructor took control and began auto-rotation. Aircraft flared too high (due to close proximity of trees), tail struck ground (golf course fairway) first then skids hit hard. The rotor hit the tail boom at the tail rotor gearbox and severed the tail boom. No injuries. Substantial damage to the aircraft.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT ON THE DOWNWIND PATTERN AT GPT WAS PREPARING FOR A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION, WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED. INSTRUCTOR TOOK CONTROL AND BEGAN AUTO-ROTATION. AIRCRAFT FLARED TOO HIGH (DUE TO CLOSE PROXIMITY OF TREES), TAIL STRUCK GROUND (GOLF COURSE FAIRWAY) FIRST THEN SKIDS HIT HARD. THE ROTOR HIT THE TAIL BOOM AT THE TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX AND SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM. NO INJURIES. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.