Incident Overview
A pilot with 1,365 hours of single-engine airplane experience and 33 hours of helicopter flight instruction lost control of the helicopter while attempting his first solo takeoff. The incident occurred on a parallel taxiway to runway 35, with the helicopter on a heading of 350 degrees.
Sequence of Events
According to the pilot's report, the helicopter became airborne suddenly with much less collective input than expected. As the helicopter lifted off, it began to roll to the right. The pilot overcorrected to the left with cyclic input and lowered the collective. The left skid contacted the ground first, leading to a dynamic roll to the left until the main rotor struck the ground. The helicopter came to rest on its left side.
Pre-Flight Discussion
Before the solo flight, the pilot and his instructor discussed changes in flight characteristics related to single occupancy in the helicopter and the procedures for the flight.
Pilot and Weather Conditions
The pilot was not injured. Weather reported included overcast skies, 10 miles visibility, winds from 340 degrees at 10 knots, and a density altitude of approximately 948 feet.