On June 27, 2003, a Robinson R22 BETA (registration N185MH) was involved in an aviation accident near Nashua, NH. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to determine the wind direction, which resulted in a hard, tailwind landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A student pilot practicing departures and approaches to a hover experienced a hard landing after increasing collective at 10 feet AGL, with subsequent recollection of needing excessive right pedal and having a tailwind.
Sequence of Events
During a training flight involving departures and approaches to a hover, a student pilot noted that more right torque pedal was required than usual during departure. While completing a subsequent normal approach, as the helicopter reached an altitude of approximately 10 feet above ground level, the pilot increased the collective to transition into a hover. However, upon raising the collective, the helicopter descended rapidly and made contact with the ground on its rear skids. Following the initial impact, the nose of the helicopter dropped and the aircraft slid forward before coming to rest.
Pilot's Recollection
In retrospect, the pilot recalled that during the flight, a significant amount of right pedal input was needed to maintain heading, describing it as "perhaps nearly full travel." The pilot did not realize at the time of the approach that the helicopter had been landing with a tailwind. Subsequently, the pilot remembered looking directly into the mouth of a windsock, indicating the wind direction was from behind.