Aug 20, 2003
Accident
Substantial Odessa, FL
Injuries1 minor
Phase of Flight-
ConditionsVMC
OperationFAR 091
Probable Cause
The failure of the pilot to maintain the proper airspeed during the practice 180-degree autorotational landing and his failure to maintain main rotor rpm resulting in a hard landing. A contributing factor in the accident was the delay by the designated pilot examiner to take the controls from the pilot after recognizing that the airspeed and main rotor rpm were low.
NTSB MIA03LA166