What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On March 13, 2007 at 1615 MST a robertson R22 registration number N7681H was operating FAR part 91 flight instruction when during autorotation training the helicopter landed hard. Instructor reported that on a full down autorotation demonstration he had a 20 knot head wind when at less than 20 feet AGL the wind dropped to 0 and rotor RPM dropped 15%. The instructor reacted by leveling the helicopter where he contacted the pavement at approximately 1000 feet per minute and 40 knots forward. The helicopter bounced several times coming to rest upright. No injuries were reported. The helicopter sustained an under/over speed on the main rotor and substantial damage to the tail boom from a main rotor blade strike.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON MARCH 13, 2007 AT 1615 MST A ROBERTSON R22 REGISTRATION NUMBER N7681H WAS OPERATING FAR PART 91 FLIGHT INSTRUCTION WHEN DURING AUTOROTATION TRAINING THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD. INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THAT ON A FULL DOWN AUTOROTATION DEMONSTRATION HE HAD A 20 KNOT HEAD WIND WHEN AT LESS THAN 20 FEET AGL THE WIND DROPPED TO 0 AND ROTOR RPM DROPPED 15%. THE INSTRUCTOR REACTED BY LEVELING THE HELICOPTER WHERE HE CONTACTED THE PAVEMENT AT APPROXIMATELY 1000 FEET PER MINUTE AND 40 KNOTS FORWARD. THE HELICOPTER BOUNCED SEVERAL TIMES COMING TO REST UPRIGHT. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED AN UNDER/OVER SPEED ON THE MAIN ROTOR AND SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE TAIL BOOM FROM A MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRIKE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.