Accident Sequence
A student helicopter pilot reported that during landing, the helicopter experienced a hydraulic failure. According to the pilot, he overreacted to the failure, causing a loss of control and subsequent rollover. The helicopter caught fire, and the pilot egressed through the left door.
The pilot stated that he did not accomplish the helicopter manufacturer's hydraulic failure emergency procedure because he "didn't want to let go of the cyclic or the collective to turn off the hydraulic pressure switch."
During the landing, the tail struck the ground, followed by a hard landing. The helicopter then rolled over.
Damage
The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and tailboom. The hydraulic pump and hydraulic lines were damaged during the post-accident fire.
Pilot Statement
According to FAA Aviation Safety Inspectors who interviewed the pilot directly following the accident, the pilot stated that he overreacted by making multiple commands to the cyclic. This resulted in a tail strike, followed by a hard landing and rollover.