What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Per pilot, he was practicing autorotations and had done several already. During the last autorotation to a power recovery, when he rolled the throtle back on, he heard a pop, the low rotor RPM horn came on, the helicopter started to vibrate. The pilot decided to touch down with some foward speed because he did not have enough power to come to a hover. Aircraft contacted the ground hard right skid first which broke, then aircraft rolled over and caught on fire. Pilot was not hurt, aircraft destroyed.
As the FAA filed it
PER PILOT, HE WAS PRACTICING AUTOROTATIONS AND HAD DONE SEVERAL ALREADY. DURING THE LAST AUTOROTATION TO A POWER RECOVERY, WHEN HE ROLLED THE THROTLE BACK ON, HE HEARD A POP, THE LOW ROTOR RPM HORN CAME ON, THE HELICOPTER STARTED TO VIBRATE. THE PILOT DECIDED TO TOUCH DOWN WITH SOME FOWARD SPEED BECAUSE HE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO COME TO A HOVER. AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE GROUND HARD RIGHT SKID FIRST WHICH BROKE, THEN AIRCRAFT ROLLED OVER AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. PILOT WAS NOT HURT, AIRCRAFT 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.
Other reports on N38EA · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.