Incident Overview
During a practice session of takeoffs and landings, a student pilot on his first solo flight executed a second takeoff. While climbing, the pilot inadvertently applied excessive collective input, causing the helicopter to ascend to approximately 12 feet above ground level (AGL). This action led to a decay of rotor RPM and a subsequent loss of tail rotor effectiveness, resulting in a right yaw.
Loss of Control
The pilot was unable to regain control as the helicopter continued to spin, ascending to about 50 feet AGL. After completing two to three 360-degree revolutions, the helicopter entered an uncontrolled descent and collided with the ground. The helicopter came to rest on its left side.
Mechanical Condition
No mechanical difficulties or malfunctions were reported with the helicopter. The pilot's input was identified as the sole precipitating factor.
Conclusion
The sequence of events began with an inadvertent large collective input, which degraded rotor RPM and compromised tail rotor effectiveness, ultimately leading to a loss of control and a hard landing.