What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On September 3, 2007, a certified flight instructor was training a private pilot rated helicopter pilot in preparation for a commercial rotorcraft certificate. While demonstrating the procedure for a practice autorotation, the helicopter experienced an engine stoppage as power was reduced to initiate an autorotation from an altitude of approximately 800 feet. The subsequent autorotative descent and hard landing resulted in substantial damage to the helicopter without injury to the pilots. Investigation has determined the probable cause of the engine stoppage to have been atmospheric conditions associated with a density altitude approaching 7000 feet. The model 269C helicopter flight manual contains the following warning: avoid throttle chops to full idle at altitudes above 7000 feet, to avoid possibility of engine stoppage. Following recovery of the helicopter, the engine started and idled normally.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2007, A CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS TRAINING A PRIVATE PILOT RATED HELICOPTER PILOT IN PREPARATION FOR A COMMERCIAL ROTORCRAFT CERTIFICATE. WHILE DEMONSTRATING THE PROCEDURE FOR A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION, THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE STOPPAGE AS POWER WAS REDUCED TO INITIATE AN AUTOROTATION FROM AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 800 FEET. THE SUBSEQUENT AUTOROTATIVE DESCENT AND HARD LANDING RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTER WITHOUT INJURY TO THE PILOTS. INVESTIGATION HAS DETERMINED THE PROBABLE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE STOPPAGE TO HAVE BEEN ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH A DENSITY ALTITUDE APPROACHING 7000 FEET. THE MODEL 269C HELICOPTER FLIGHT MANUAL CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING WARNING: AVOID THROTTLE CHOPS TO FULL IDLE AT ALTITUDES ABOVE 7000 FEET, TO AVOID POSSIBILITY OF ENGINE STOPPAGE. FOLLOWING RECOVERY OF THE HELICOPTER, THE ENGINE STARTED AND IDLED NORMALLY.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N58332 · 3
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.