Robinson R22 Beta, G-TOMM, 12 October 2009
Robinson R22 Beta, G-TOMM
Summary:
Having completed a training flight with his instructor, the student, for his second solo flight, was cleared to fly three solo circuits. The instructor stated that the wind was light and variable and, having vacated the helicopter, observed that the circuits were flown accurately. The student, to conclude the lesson, repositioned and landed the helicopter on the apron. The student stated that, upon touchdown, he had lowered the collective fully before setting the friction adjustment. The instructor briefly turned away, before he heard the helicopter’s engine noise increase. The student recalled that as he moved his left hand to set the cyclic friction the helicopter started to shudder, move and began to rotate to the right. He attempted to control the rotation using pedal and confirmed that the collective was fully down. However, the helicopter began to lift and the student, believing that it was going to topple onto its side, pitched the cyclic forward. Having rotated approximately three times, the helicopter hit the ground nose first. The main rotor blades struck the ground and also severed the tail boom. The helicopter settled onto its skids as the student shut down the engine by turning the ignition switch key. He was uninjured and exited through the cabin door. The helicopter was damaged beyond economic repair.
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