Incident Details
A student pilot with 22 hours of flight experience was conducting a solo training flight in a single-engine helicopter. While performing a hovering maneuver at a skid height of approximately 10 feet above the ground, the helicopter encountered a phenomenon known as loss of tail rotor effectiveness (LTE). According to the pilot, the helicopter subsequently entered an uncontrolled hard spin to the right.
Pilot Response and Landing
The pilot responded by lowering the collective control, and the helicopter landed hard. The pilot egressed from the helicopter normally and reported no injuries.
Aircraft Damage
The hard landing resulted in structural damage to the helicopter, including the right strut, the tail rotor drive shafts, and the right horizontal stabilizer.
Weather Conditions
Winds at the time of the mishap were reported from 210 degrees at 6 knots.