Accident Overview
A student pilot flew a helicopter to an assigned practice area and performed undetermined maneuvers before the aircraft crashed into a dirt embankment adjacent to an open field. There were no witnesses to the accident.
Wreckage Examination
Examination of the wreckage revealed that a main rotor blade (MRB) had severed the tail rotor assembly prior to the helicopter coming to final rest. The MRB, tail rotor blade assembly, horizontal stabilizer, and tail stinger were found in the field up to 147 feet from the main wreckage. The MRB was observed coned upward at a 30-degree angle over the outboard 5-foot-long portion of its span.
No evidence was found in the heavily fire-damaged wreckage of preimpact mechanical or structural failure. Structural deformation to the frame was consistent with the helicopter having impacted the embankment while descending with forward airspeed. No ground scar was observed in the soft dirt surrounding the main wreckage.
Training Records
Review of the student's reconstructed flight training records indicated that possible training deficiencies existed in areas including responding to equipment malfunctions and crosswind takeoffs and landings.