What happened
On October 24, 2012, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter, registration PP-MAQ, was conducting a Private Pilot Helicopter (PPH) training flight from Belém Novo Aerodrome (SSBN) in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul. The flight involved an instructor and a student pilot.
Approximately five minutes after takeoff, while performing taxi training maneuvers, the student pilot abruptly applied the collective control. This sudden input caused the aircraft to gain altitude unexpectedly, followed by a loss of lift, resulting in a hard impact with the ground. The collision caused substantial damage to the main rotor, fuselage, tail cone, tail rotor, and skids.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation confirmed that both crew members held valid medical certificates and that the instructor held a valid technical qualification. The student was actively undergoing flight training. The investigation verified that the aircraft's airworthiness certificate was valid, the aircraft was within weight and balance limits, and all maintenance records for the airframe, engine, and propeller were up to date. At the time of the incident, the instructor had 128 hours of total flight time, while the student had only one hour of total flight time in the model.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the abrupt manipulation of the collective control by the student pilot during taxi training.
- The student pilot was in the process of flight training with only one hour of total flight time.
- The instructor had fully delegated flight controls to the student during the maneuver.
- The instructor sustained a minor head injury, while the student remained uninjured.