Incident Overview
A student pilot was at the controls during an instructional flight approaching an airport from the east on a practice VOR-A approach. The student misunderstood the instructor's directions to touch down on the numbers of Runway 17, and instead proceeded to a grassy area located between the approach ends of Runway 35 and Runway 27.
Sequence of Events
During the final part of the approach to the grassy area, the student had the helicopter headed into the wind. However, when the helicopter was about 30 to 40 feet above the ground, the student initiated a right turn in order to air-taxi to the helicopter landing pad. During that turn, the helicopter was exposed to a direct tailwind of between five and seven knots. As a result of this tailwind exposure and the subsequent maneuver, the student failed to maintain directional control, and the aircraft began spinning to the right.
Instructor Intervention and Outcome
The instructor pilot took control of the aircraft, but her remedial action was not taken soon enough to recover control before the helicopter's left skid impacted the terrain. Following the skid's contact with the ground, the aircraft rolled over onto its left side, where it came to rest.
Mechanical Assessment
There were no issues with the helicopter's flight control system, nor any problem with the engine's production of power.