What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) CFI was giving instruction to a student pilot on low RPM recovery at pad #4. CFI had previously demonstrated this procedure several times to student. Student took controls after CFI placed helicopter in a low RPM condition at approximately 8 to 10 feet AGL. The student reduced the throttle instead of increasing the throttle to recover. The CFI was unable to regain control as the helicopter yawed to the left and lost altitude causing the tail rotor to strike the ground. The helicopter then yawed to the right and rotated to the right several times. CFI told student to let go of the controls approximately 5 times before the student let go of the controls. CFI attempted to recover the helicopter not knowing the tail rotor had struck the ground. The CFI reduced throttle which caused helicopter to land hard on the skids.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) CFI WAS GIVING INSTRUCTION TO A STUDENT PILOT ON LOW RPM RECOVERY AT PAD #4. CFI HAD PREVIOUSLY DEMONSTRATED THIS PROCEDURE SEVERAL TIMES TO STUDENT. STUDENT TOOK CONTROLS AFTER CFI PLACED HELICOPTER IN A LOW RPM CONDITION AT APPROXIMATELY 8 TO 10 FEET AGL. THE STUDENT REDUCED THE THROTTLE INSTEAD OF INCREASING THE THROTTLE TO RECOVER. THE CFI WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AS THE HELICOPTER YAWED TO THE LEFT AND LOST ALTITUDE CAUSING THE TAIL ROTOR TO STRIKE THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTER THEN YAWED TO THE RIGHT AND ROTATED TO THE RIGHT SEVERAL TIMES. CFI TOLD STUDENT TO LET GO OF THE CONTROLS APPROXIMATELY 5 TIMES BEFORE THE STUDENT LET GO OF THE CONTROLS. CFI ATTEMPTED TO RECOVER THE HELICOPTER NOT KNOWING THE TAIL ROTOR HAD STRUCK THE GROUND. THE CFI REDUCED THROTTLE WHICH CAUSED HELICOPTER TO LAND HARD ON THE SKIDS.
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 N7188S · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.