What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) During a training flight the student was practicing auto rotation beginning at approximately 600' AGL, at approximately 200' the student began to make control errors causing the rotor speed to decrease to the point of stalling. The instructor took over the controls in an attempt to regain control of the aircraft. The aircraft struck soft ground at a fairly high descent rate and slid for approximately 50' where one main rotor blade struck a tree causing the aircraft to roll onto its side. One minor injury to student pilot, helicopter destroyed.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) DURING A TRAINING FLIGHT THE STUDENT WAS PRACTICING AUTO ROTATION BEGINNING AT APPROXIMATELY 600' AGL, AT APPROXIMATELY 200' THE STUDENT BEGAN TO MAKE CONTROL ERRORS CAUSING THE ROTOR SPEED TO DECREASE TO THE POINT OF STALLING. THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK OVER THE CONTROLS IN AN ATTEMPT TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK SOFT GROUND AT A FAIRLY HIGH DESCENT RATE AND SLID FOR APPROXIMATELY 50' WHERE ONE MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRUCK A TREE CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO ROLL ONTO ITS SIDE. ONE MINOR INJURY TO STUDENT PILOT, HELICOPTER DESTROYED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.