What happened
The incident occurred while the pilot was conducting a check ride. The specific objective of this phase of flight was to demonstrate proficiency in performing a pinnacle approach and subsequent landing. During the execution of this maneuver, the pilot reported that the angle of approach was excessive. In an attempt to correct the trajectory or maintain lift, too much collective pitch was applied. This combination of factors led directly to a rotor stall.
Following the loss of rotor efficiency, the helicopter collided with the terrain. The impact caused the aircraft to roll over. As a result of this sequence of events, the helicopter sustained substantial damage. No further details regarding injuries or specific location were provided in the source record.
The investigation
The primary basis for the assessment of this accident is the pilot's own statement regarding the operational parameters at the time of the event. The pilot identified the excessive angle of approach and the application of excessive collective as the direct precursors to the rotor stall. No mechanical examination or external forensic data was included in the provided source text.
Findings
The analysis indicates that the rotor stall was the critical failure mode leading to the loss of control. The contributing factors were identified as:
- An angle of approach that was too great for the specific maneuver conditions.
- The application of too much collective pitch in response to the approach angle.
These actions resulted in the helicopter colliding with terrain and rolling over, causing substantial damage to the airframe.