ANC98LA037

The pilot stated that he held his flare too long during a practice autorotation and allowed the tail to contact the ground.

On April 12, 1998, at 1430 Alaska daylight time, an Enstrom F-28F helicopter, N199LB, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing at the Haines Airport, Haines, Alaska. The commercial helicopter pilot sustained minor injuries. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, and departed Haines at 1425 as a local training flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a flight plan was filed with the pilot's company.

The pilot last received flight instruction in the make and model helicopter five months prior to the accident. He had conducted a solo practice flight two days prior to the accident.

During an interview with the NTSB investigator on April 13, 1998, the pilot stated he was practicing autorotations in preparation for an upcoming flight instructor flight test. He indicated the 15 to 20 knot winds were aligned with the runway. During the autorotative flare, the helicopter tail skid contacted the runway, and the helicopter landed hard. The tail rotor gear box subsequently separated, and two main rotor blades contacted the tail boom. The pilot indicated to the NTSB investigator during an interview, and in his NTSB Pilot/Operator Report, that he held his flare too long, and allowed the tail to contact the ground.