What happened
On 20 April 2018, a Robinson R22 Beta, registration G-JKAT, was conducting a private cross-country training flight at Shobdon Aerodrome in Herefordshire. The student pilot was cleared to approach Runway 26 and was instructed to land on the grass strip located to the north of the airfield. During the approach, the pilot selected a landing point approximately one-third of the way down the grass runway.
As the aircraft reached a high hover, estimated to be between 7 and 10 feet, the pilot noted a slight vibration. Fearing the onset of the vortex ring state due to insufficient deceleration, the pilot attempted to maintain a level attitude and increase power to stabilize the hover. However, the helicopter began to descend and underwent a 90-degree turn before making heavy contact with the ground. The aircraft sustained a buckled airframe, but the pilot escaped without injury.
The investigation
Investigators reviewed the accident report submitted by the pilot and accounts from an eyewitness. The investigation noted that the airfield's active runway had been changed from Runway 26 to Runway 08 roughly 20 to 30 minutes prior to the incident. It was noted that a light tailwind may have been present during the landing phase. Additionally, the Airfield Flight Information Service Officer (AFISO) who observed the landing suggested that the aircraft's height during the hover appeared greater than what the pilot had perceived.