What happened
A solo student pilot was operating a helicopter when an incident occurred resulting in damage to the aircraft. The sequence of events began with the tail rotor contacting the ground surface. Witnesses present at the scene observed that immediately following this contact, the aircraft spun rapidly to the right.
After the initial loss of control and rotation, the student pilot attempted to recover by setting the helicopter back down. During this landing attempt, the aircraft rolled onto its side. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were reported as calm, with no significant wind factors contributing to the event.
The investigation
Investigation into the incident focused on the mechanical interaction between the tail rotor and the ground. Examination confirmed that the tail rotor struck the surface, which initiated the loss of directional control. The subsequent spin to the right was a direct result of this contact. No other mechanical failures were identified in the provided narrative.
Findings
The primary factor leading to the accident was the tail rotor contacting the ground. This event caused the student pilot to lose control of the helicopter. The inability to maintain directional stability resulted in the aircraft spinning and eventually rolling onto its side during the attempt to land. The calm wind conditions did not mitigate the loss of control caused by the rotor strike.