puntosaurus, I disagree.
I was taught a basic auto (ie first lessons) in a small piston like this:
1. Lower lever fully - rapidly and smoothly, ensure its fully down.
2. Maintain the attitude - dont let the nose drop, don't let it roll, keep it in balance.
3. Check the RRPM is restoring
4. Set the attitude for the desired speed - we used 55KT in R22 and H300 nil wind
5. Turn into wind
6. Control RRPM as required with collective, middle of the green
7. Hold your speed until the groundspeed seemed excessive
8. Flare smoothly but positively as required to lose the groundspeed you need to lose (ie back to a safe run on speed, or zero speed, depending upon terrain)
9. Hold the flare until you had lost the speed, or were concerned about a tail strike and it sinking out
10. A short pitch pull on the collective (only a couple of inches or so), at the end of the flare, to further reduce groundspeed and prevent it sinking out
11. Immediately level the ship and cushion it onto the ground with collective as required, ensuring its straight.