Event WPR13CA206

Factual narrative

The flight instructor reported that during an instructional flight, she and her student pilot were practicing autorotations. During a right turn 180- degree autorotation, the flight instructor announced that the throttle was coming on, and then when full throttle was on. The student then started to level the helicopter. As the wind had shifted during the maneuver, the student was forced to flare harder and utilize increased cyclic control. The flight instructor subsequently took control of the helicopter in order to prevent an engine over-torque and landed the helicopter. During the landing, the tail boom was substantially damaged. The flight instructor reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The flight instructor reported that she and the pilot receiving instruction were practicing autorotations. During an autorotation involving a right 180-degree turn, the flight instructor announced that the throttle was coming on, and then announced when full throttle was on. The pilot then started to level the helicopter. Because the wind had shifted to a tailwind during the maneuver, the pilot was forced to flare harder and use more cyclic control than expected. The flight instructor realized that completing a power recovery from the autorotation was going to result in an overtorque condition, took over control, and landed the helicopter. During the landing, the tailboom was substantially damaged. The flight instructor reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Delayed action-Instructor/check pilot - C
• C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Delayed action-Pilot - C
• C Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Monitoring environment-Instructor/check pilot - C
• C Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Monitoring environment-Pilot - C
• C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Tailwind-Awareness of condition - C