ERA20CA106

Factual narrative

The flight instructor of the helicopter reported that, he directed the airplane rated pilot to conduct an autorotation with a 180° turn, followed with a power recovery. Abeam the departure end of runway, he moved the throttle lever from the FLY position to IDLE. While conducting the maneuver, the student pilot overshot the runway and aligned the helicopter with the parallel taxiway. Upon realizing the unacceptable position, they elected to abort the maneuver and perform a go-around. While the student pilot continued to fly the helicopter, the instructor inadvertently moved the throttle lever from IDLE, aft, towards the OFF position, then forward, to the FLY position. The engine experienced a total loss of power and the instructor adjusted the throttle to no avail. As the helicopter continued the descent, the student pilot requested that the instructor "get on the controls". The instructor left the throttle in the full power position, took the controls and conduct a power-off autorotation. The helicopter landed on the taxiway, skidded about 180 feet, departed the taxiway, onto the adjacent grass and came to rest in a drainage ditch.The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The Federal Aviation Administrator inspector who examined the helicopter at the accident site reported damage to the left anti-vibrator mount beam. The flight instructor in the helicopter reported that he directed the pilot receiving instruction to conduct an autorotation with a 180° turn, followed by a power recovery. Abeam the departure end of runway, he moved the throttle lever from the "fly" position to idle. While conducting the maneuver, the pilot overshot the runway and aligned the helicopter with the parallel taxiway. Upon realizing that the helicopter was not in the correct position, the pilots chose to abort the maneuver and perform a go-around. While the pilot continued to fly the helicopter, the instructor inadvertently moved the throttle lever from idle aft toward the "off" position and then forward to the "fly" position. The engine experienced a total loss of power, and the instructor adjusted the throttle to no avail. As the helicopter descended, the pilot requested that the instructor "get on the controls." The instructor took the controls, conducted a power-off autorotation, and landed the helicopter on the taxiway. The helicopter skidded about 180 ft, departed the taxiway onto adjacent grass, and came to rest in a drainage ditch. The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The Federal Aviation Administrator inspector who examined the helicopter reported that the left antivibrator mount beam had sustained substantial damage. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of equip/system-Instructor/check pilot - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft power plant-Engine fuel and control-Fuel controlling system-Unintentional use/operation - C