Incident Overview
A flight instructor reported that while practicing hover flight in a helicopter over soft grass at a height of 5 to 7 feet above the ground with a student pilot on his second training flight, the aircraft rolled over after the right skid impacted the ground.
Cockpit Control Distribution
The flight instructor was controlling the collective and anti-torque pedals, while the student pilot was controlling the cyclic control. This division of controls is typical for initial hover training.
Distraction and Loss of Awareness
During the hover, the flight instructor reported becoming fixated on the manifold pressure gauge. As a result, he did not notice that the helicopter was moving forward and descending. This loss of situational awareness led to the aircraft's descent and forward drift.
Sequence of Events
The helicopter's right skid made contact with the ground while the aircraft was still in forward motion and at a low height. This asymmetric ground contact caused the helicopter to roll over.
Damage Assessment
The main rotor drive shaft and tailboom sustained substantial damage in the rollover. The flight instructor did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Conclusion
The incident occurred during a routine training exercise, with the instructor's attention diverted to an instrument reading, resulting in a loss of aircraft control and subsequent rollover.