Just to clarify further in order to keep AC back in his box - can't remember what his autos were like but do remember his nav was cr@p - I am talking about an abrupt total loss of power or an absolutely unannounced practice by the QHI. The first thing that is going to happen is a WTF - RRPM will drop out of the bottom of the green - a couple of hundred feet will be lost while the pilot computes and gets the lever down - ROD will be in the order of 3000 ft/min at this stage. While ever RRPM are below the optimum ROD will remain high. Only when RRPM/IAS/balance etc are all stabilised will the helo be in a stable auto at around something like a loss of 1000 ft.
GAGS
E86
PS Try any fancy rear cyclic movement in any of Bell's underslung teetering heads with low rotor RPM and you stand a good chance of separating that rotor head.