Helicopter Rolls Over During Training Touchdown in Wind Gust

Incident Overview

A flight instructor and a student pilot were conducting hovering and landing practice on a level concrete area. The session lasted about 30 minutes before the incident occurred during a touchdown.

Sequence of Events

According to the pilot's accident report, a wind gust or wind shift caused the helicopter to shift sideways as it touched down. The pilots felt the skids "catch," and the left side of the helicopter began to lift. The flight instructor called for and assumed control of the helicopter; however, the student pilot had not released his controls. Subsequently, the helicopter rolled onto its right side.

Damage and Findings

The helicopter sustained substantial damage to its tailboom. The pilot's accident report indicated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter.