No fatalities

Helicopter Rolls Over During Solo Training Takeoff from Wet Grass

Bryan, TX, United States

On November 6, 2012, a ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II operated by AD Holdings LLC was involved in an aviation accident near Bryan, TX. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s over-correction in an attempt to stabilize the helicopter during liftoff. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

A helicopter on a solo training flight rolled over during takeoff from wet grass. The pilot, receiving helicopter rating, reported cyclic inputs led to oscillations and rollover. Substantial damage occurred.

Accident Overview

A helicopter accident occurred during a solo training flight. The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with single-engine land airplane ratings and was training to obtain a helicopter rating. At the time of the accident, the pilot had accumulated 31 hours of helicopter flight time. The accident happened on the pilot's second solo flight.

Accident Details

The pilot reported that the accident took place while attempting a takeoff from a wet grass area. As the pilot increased the collective to lift off, the helicopter began to roll to the right. The right skid remained on the ground during this motion. In response, the pilot moved the cyclic to the left. The helicopter then rolled to the left, causing the left skid to contact the ground. The pilot subsequently applied right cyclic, and the helicopter again rolled to the right. The right skid contacted the ground, and the helicopter rolled onto its right side.

Damage and Mechanical Status

The accident resulted in substantial damage to the main rotor blades and the helicopter fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.

Investigation

No probable cause was stated in the accident source. The investigation focused on the pilot's inputs during the takeoff attempt from a wet grass surface.

Contributing factors

PilotIncorrect use/operation