What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
N105JL, a Hughes HU-369D helicopter with two pilots onboard (a CFI and rated private pilot helicopter) were conducting autorotation training. While practicing autorotations with a 180 degree turn to runway 34 at Riverside municipal airport (kral), N105JL made a hard landing in the dirt short of the runway.
The aircraft was substantially damaged. The tailboom and tail rotor blades struck the dirt approximately 40 feet short of the runway prior to the landing gear skids touching down in the dirt. The helicopter spun approximately 180 degrees to the right and slid 100-125 feet before coming to a stop.
The tail boom was severed on initial contact with the ground. The CFI in the right front seat sustained minor injuries. The rated private pilot in the front left seat sustained serious injuries when he was ejected from the aircraft after his seatbelt failed to restrain him.
As the FAA filed it
N105JL, A HUGHES HU-369D HELICOPTER WITH TWO PILOTS ONBOARD (A CFI AND RATED PRIVATE PILOT HELICOPTER) WERE CONDUCTING AUTOROTATION TRAINING. WHILE PRACTICING AUTOROTATIONS WITH A 180 DEGREE TURN TO RUNWAY 34 AT RIVERSIDE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (KRAL), N105JL MADE A HARD LANDING IN THE DIRT SHORT OF THE RUNWAY.
THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE TAILBOOM AND TAIL ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE DIRT APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY PRIOR TO THE LANDING GEAR SKIDS TOUCHING DOWN IN THE DIRT. THE HELICOPTER SPUN APPROXIMATELY 180 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT AND SLID 100-125 FEET BEFORE COMING TO A STOP.
THE TAIL BOOM WAS SEVERED ON INITIAL CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. THE CFI IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE RATED PRIVATE PILOT IN THE FRONT LEFT SEAT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES WHEN HE WAS EJECTED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AFTER HIS SEATBELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN HIM.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.