Accident Overview
During a training flight, a flight instructor and a student pilot were repositioning a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter to practice "quick stops." The student pilot was air taxiing the helicopter downwind at an altitude of 30 feet above ground level. As she began to slow the helicopter, the flight instructor took over the flight controls.
Control Inputs and Response
The flight instructor attempted to execute a left pedal turn to align the helicopter with the wind for landing. However, the helicopter did not respond to his input and began to descend. The instructor then lowered the collective "slightly" and increased engine power "slightly" in an effort to halt the descent, but the helicopter continued downward. He again raised the collective "slightly," but the descent persisted.
Descent and Ground Contact
When the helicopter reached a low altitude, the flight instructor turned it so that the skids were pointing in the direction of travel. The front of the skids subsequently contacted the ground, dug in, and the helicopter nosed over.
Post-Accident Report
The flight instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter.