What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
During the touch down portion of a practice, 180-degree, full-down autorotation, the helicopter contacted the ground with approximately 30 knots of ground speed, and began to drift to the right. The PIC stated he attempted to overcome the drift by applying left lateral cyclic and left pedal. PIC stated the control inputs had little effect on controlling the drift. The aircraft slid approximately 150 yards while drifting to the right, and the aircraft?s nose turning to the right, until making contact with the loose gravel on the right edge of the runway. Upon the aircraft skids making contact with the loose gravel, the aircraft rolled and came to rest on its left side. During the maneuver, the PIC reported no mechanical deficiencies with the aircraft.
As the FAA filed it
DURING THE TOUCH DOWN PORTION OF A PRACTICE, 180-DEGREE, FULL-DOWN AUTOROTATION, THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED THE GROUND WITH APPROXIMATELY 30 KNOTS OF GROUND SPEED, AND BEGAN TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. THE PIC STATED HE ATTEMPTED TO OVERCOME THE DRIFT BY APPLYING LEFT LATERAL CYCLIC AND LEFT PEDAL. PIC STATED THE CONTROL INPUTS HAD LITTLE EFFECT ON CONTROLLING THE DRIFT. THE AIRCRAFT SLID APPROXIMATELY 150 YARDS WHILE DRIFTING TO THE RIGHT, AND THE AIRCRAFT?S NOSE TURNING TO THE RIGHT, UNTIL MAKING CONTACT WITH THE LOOSE GRAVEL ON THE RIGHT EDGE OF THE RUNWAY. UPON THE AIRCRAFT SKIDS MAKING CONTACT WITH THE LOOSE GRAVEL, THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED AND CAME TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE. DURING THE MANEUVER, THE PIC REPORTED NO MECHANICAL DEFICIENCIES WITH THE AIRCRAFT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.