Originally Posted by remote hook
The full-on auto is a VERY important part of learning helicopter control...
I agree
...and that training has saved numberous lives over the years.
Actually, there have been very few (if any) injuries or deaths attributed to the last 5' after a proper flare. People get killed because they fail to lower the collective, go in the wrong direction, fly the wrong airspeed, don't flare, hit things, and generally screw up the stuff before the flare. A
properly trained power recovery will become a servicable touchdown almost automatically.
Doing power recoveries followed by a bunch of hovering Autos doesn't cut it. How can you give a student a license if they can't demonstrate taking a helicopter to the ground??
Quite easily. As stated above, with the proper training, even a solo student should walk away from an engine failure. The helicopter may be bent, but so what. The chances of a helo getting bent in practice EOLs (especially an R22) is hugely greater than the chance of an engine failure. Just check the accident reports - the numbers speak for themselves.