Incident Overview
A helicopter experienced a rollover accident during takeoff following an annual inspection. The purpose of the flight was to test the aircraft after the inspection. The pilot flew the helicopter for approximately one hour from the left seat with the aircraft owner in the right seat. After the owner deplaned, the pilot moved into the right seat.
Takeoff and Loss of Control
According to the pilot, during takeoff the helicopter began moving to the right because of a right center of gravity (CG). The pilot's weight was 251 pounds. The pilot reported that he was unable to move the cyclic control far enough to the left to counteract the movement because his leg was restricting the travel of the cyclic. As a result, the right skid contacted the ground, and the helicopter rolled over to the right.
Damage and Injuries
The source does not specify damage to the helicopter or injuries to the pilot. It states only that the helicopter rolled over onto its right side.
Probable Cause
The investigation source does not state a probable cause or any contributing factors. According to the pilot's statement, the right CG and restricted cyclic travel due to the pilot's leg were factors in the event.