Incident Overview
A certified flight instructor (CFI) and a student pilot were engaged in a hovering practice session in a helicopter. The student pilot had accumulated a total of 6 hours of flight time, all of which were logged in the same make and model of helicopter involved in the incident.
Sequence of Events
During the hover maneuver, the helicopter's right skid made contact with the ground. This contact caused the helicopter to roll onto its right side. The CFI subsequently reported that he had delayed taking control of the aircraft and had permitted the helicopter to descend too low during the hover.
Contributing Factor
According to the CFI's account, his delayed assumption of control and failure to maintain adequate altitude were key aspects of the event.