Incident Overview
A student pilot was conducting a solo cross-country flight. Prior to departure, the flight instructor informed the student that he would notice extra aft weight when lifting off because it was the first time flying the helicopter solo with full fuel tanks.
Sequence of Events
As the helicopter became light on its skids, the student pilot felt it tilt aft. He corrected by applying cyclic and anti-torque pedals. When he raised the collective and lifted off the ground, the helicopter turned to the right. In response, he immediately lowered the collective and set the helicopter back down.
Damage
During the event, the helicopter's tail skid "stinger" impacted the ground. This resulted in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer.
Pilot Statement
The student pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the helicopter. He noted that the right turn may have been prevented by additional left anti-torque pedal application.