What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
During a training maneuver, a commercially rated pilot entered an autorotation. The pilot recognized that the helicopter was going to overshoot the intended landing spot and began to decelerate the aircraft. During the flare, the helicopter continued to descend and contacted the ground at a higher-than-normal rate. The landing gear collapsed upon impact, resulting in extensive damage to the aircraft. While departing the aircraft, both pilots noted that the winds were swirling between the runway and taxiway. The pilots did not sustain any injuries.
A review of the aircraft records revealed that it had proper certification and a current inspection status. A review of the pilot records confirmed that the pilot held the correct certification.
As the FAA filed it
DURING A TRAINING MANEUVER, A COMMERCIALLY RATED PILOT ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION. THE PILOT RECOGNIZED THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS GOING TO OVERSHOOT THE INTENDED LANDING SPOT AND BEGAN TO DECELERATE THE AIRCRAFT. DURING THE FLARE, THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO DESCEND AND CONTACTED THE GROUND AT A HIGHER-THAN-NORMAL RATE. THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED UPON IMPACT, RESULTING IN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. WHILE DEPARTING THE AIRCRAFT, BOTH PILOTS NOTED THAT THE WINDS WERE SWIRLING BETWEEN THE RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY. THE PILOTS DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES.
A REVIEW OF THE AIRCRAFT RECORDS REVEALED THAT IT HAD PROPER CERTIFICATION AND A CURRENT INSPECTION STATUS. A REVIEW OF THE PILOT RECORDS CONFIRMED THAT THE PILOT HELD THE CORRECT CERTIFICATION.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.