What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) N9396F was on local training flight for helicopter CFI rating. Student pilot at the controls on climbout when aircraft experienced a shudder at approximately 400 feet. Student transferred controls to instructor and instructor began a crosswind turn. At that point, the engine failed and the instructor executed low airspeed, low altitude autorotation back toward the airport. Instructor attempted to cushion landing with full up collective approximately one half mile from the end of runway 30 but aircraft hit hard and broke apart, sustaining heavy damage. Both pilots egressed without injuries.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) N9396F WAS ON LOCAL TRAINING FLIGHT FOR HELICOPTER CFI RATING. STUDENT PILOT AT THE CONTROLS ON CLIMBOUT WHEN AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A SHUDDER AT APPROXIMATELY 400 FEET. STUDENT TRANSFERRED CONTROLS TO INSTRUCTOR AND INSTRUCTOR BEGAN A CROSSWIND TURN. AT THAT POINT, THE ENGINE FAILED AND THE INSTRUCTOR EXECUTED LOW AIRSPEED, LOW ALTITUDE AUTOROTATION BACK TOWARD THE AIRPORT. INSTRUCTOR ATTEMPTED TO CUSHION LANDING WITH FULL UP COLLECTIVE APPROXIMATELY ONE HALF MILE FROM THE END OF RUNWAY 30 BUT AIRCRAFT HIT HARD AND BROKE APART, SUSTAINING HEAVY DAMAGE. BOTH PILOTS EGRESSED WITHOUT INJURIES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.