Amateur-built EXEC N43691 accident near Richwood, Ohio

Probable cause

The flight instructor’s inadequate autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing and postcrash fire. Contributing was the flight instructor’s lack of experience in performing an autorotation in the accident make and model of helicopter.

NTSB analysis

The flight instructor heard a noise during cruise flight 800 feet above ground level and saw a caution light illuminate on the instrument panel during an instructional flight. He did not recall if there was a loss of engine power. He performed a precautionary autorotation, the helicopter landed hard, and a postcrash fire destroyed the helicopter. The flight instructor had not previously performed an autorotation in the helicopter make and model. The postcrash fire precluded functional testing of any of the helicopter's systems; however, examination of the helicopter did not reveal evidence of any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN14LA228 for the full record.