Probable cause
The flight instructor’s failure to maintain sufficient rotor speed during a practice autorotation which resulted in a hard landing.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot and flight instructor initiated a 90° practice autorotation. As the helicopter descended, the flight instructor took control of the helicopter to cushion the landing after the student pilot flared too high. During the attempted recovery, sufficient rotor speed was not maintained, and the helicopter experienced a hard landing. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom. Both the student pilot and the flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN24LA070 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Nov 8, 2023
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Claremore, Oklahoma
- Nearest airport
- Avian Country Estates Airport (OK15)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Helicopteres Guimbal CABRI G2
- N-number
- N522TF
- Category
- Helicopter
- Year built
- 2022
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.