Incident Details
A helicopter pilot reported that he permitted a passenger without a rating to practice hovering at an altitude of approximately 3 feet above ground level. The pilot stated, "You have the aircraft," and removed his hands from the flight controls. The passenger then moved the cyclic control to its forward limit, causing the helicopter to strike the ground.
Aircraft Damage
The helicopter sustained substantial damage to its main rotor drive system, tail rotor drive system, and fuselage. The pilot indicated that no mechanical malfunctions or failures were present that would have prevented normal operation.
Pilot Statement
The pilot confirmed that the helicopter was functioning properly prior to the event and attributed the accident to the passenger's control input.