What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) During training in preparation for a private pilot certificate, instructor initiated a simulated power failure. Normal autorotational descent was accomplished. Power recovery was initiated by increasing throttle. Engine did not develop full power. It was determined that a full down autorotation would be accomplished by instructor. Touchdown was accomplished with a small ground run. Terrain was soft due to recent rain and snow and helicopter submarined into mud bringing the helicopter to a sudden stop. Rotor flexed and came into contact with and severed tail rotor drive shaft. No injuries.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) DURING TRAINING IN PREPARATION FOR A PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE, INSTRUCTOR INITIATED A SIMULATED POWER FAILURE. NORMAL AUTOROTATIONAL DESCENT WAS ACCOMPLISHED. POWER RECOVERY WAS INITIATED BY INCREASING THROTTLE. ENGINE DID NOT DEVELOP FULL POWER. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A FULL DOWN AUTOROTATION WOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED BY INSTRUCTOR. TOUCHDOWN WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITH A SMALL GROUND RUN. TERRAIN WAS SOFT DUE TO RECENT RAIN AND SNOW AND HELICOPTER SUBMARINED INTO MUD BRINGING THE HELICOPTER TO A SUDDEN STOP. ROTOR FLEXED AND CAME INTO CONTACT WITH AND SEVERED TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT. NO 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.
Other reports on N409LH · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.