Aircraft and Crew Information
The aircraft involved was a Guimbal Cabri G2, registration SP-NCA, serial number 1152. It was a light helicopter with a composite three-blade main rotor and a fenestron-type tail rotor. The helicopter was powered by a Lycoming O-360-J2A engine. The operator was Akademickie Centrum Szkolenia Lotniczego Lotniczej Akademii Wojskowej w Dęblinie (ACSL LAW).
The crew consisted of a flight instructor and a student pilot. The instructor, aged 29, held a CPL(H) issued on 4 April 2019, with a type rating for Cabri G2 valid until 31 December 2020, and an FI Restricted rating valid until 30 September 2022. His total flight experience was 552 hours, including approximately 490 hours on the Cabri G2. The student pilot, aged 24, held a Class 2 aero-medical certificate and had a total flight time of 14.21 hours, all on the Cabri G2.
Flight Details
On 2 July 2020, at approximately 14:40 hrs local time, the crew was performing exercise IV/17 according to the PPL(H) Training Program at the Nowe Miasto nad Pilicą aerodrome (EPNM). The exercise was intended to check the student pilot's ability to perform a pre-solo flight exam. Ten aerodrome traffic circuits were planned. The take-off occurred at 13:35 hrs. During the ninth circuit, light rainfall began in the aerodrome area, with heavier rainfall outside. Due to deteriorating weather, the instructor decided to perform the last circuit as an auto-rotation simulation, to be terminated with a hover and air-taxi to the helicopter stand.
Until the third turn of runway 26, the student pilot maintained constant flight parameters: 65 knots speed and 1,200 ft QNH altitude. After clearance for the auto-rotation simulation, the student achieved 1,500 ft QNH altitude in the third turn. Prior to the fourth turn, the instructor visually inspected the parameters and warnings on the display. The flight conditions were VMC, daytime, according to VFR.
Weather
The EPNM aerodrome did not have its own meteorological station. Meteorological support was provided via telephone consulting and online data. At the time of the occurrence, visibility exceeded 10 km, wind was between 2 and 10 kt from varying directions, ambient temperature was 26°C, QNH pressure was 1,010 hPa, and CB clouds were present with light then heavy rainfall. Meteorological data from a nearby aerodrome (EPTM, 45 km away) showed similar conditions.
Damage
The aircraft sustained damage to the tail boom, fuselage skin, tail rotor (fenestron) along with the drive transmission system, two out of three main rotor blades, blade dampers, swashplate scissors, rotor blade pitch control rods, and the oil pressure sensor. The location of damage included a sheared tail boom and rear part of the tail boom with the fenestron, as well as a torn-out drive shaft.
Injuries
No injuries to persons were reported.