What happened
On 30 January 2018, a student pilot was attempting his first solo flight in a Robinson R22 Beta, registration G-CTRL, at Nottingham Heliport. Following a successful 55-minute training session, the instructor determined the student was prepared to fly alone. Before departing, the instructor provided specific guidance regarding the shift in the aircraft's centre of gravity (CG). He noted that without an instructor in the left seat, the CG would move right and aft, necessitating left and forward cyclic inputs to maintain stability.
After the instructor moved to a safe distance, the student pilot attempted to lift into a hover. While the pilot attempted to use visual cues to adjust the controls, the helicopter rotated around the right skid and rolled onto its side. The rotor blades struck the grass, resulting in extensive damage to the aircraft. The student pilot sustained minor injuries to his hands.
The investigation
An investigation into the event established that while the pilot maintained directional control using the pedals, he did not apply enough left cyclic control to counteract the CG shift. The instructor witnessed the aircraft undergo a dynamic rollover. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's documentation, specifically Robinson Safety Notice SN-9, which details the risks of dynamic rollover and advises a two-step liftoff technique to maintain equilibrium.
Findings
- The accident was caused by the failure to apply sufficient left cyclic control to compensate for the change in the aircraft's centre of gravity.
- The aircraft's CG shifted right and aft due to the absence of the instructor in the left seat.
- The helicopter experienced a dynamic rollover, pivoting around the right skid.