What happened
On 5 April 2006, an Agusta Bell 206B, registration G-GLSS, was conducting solo training circuits at Southend Airport. The flight was part of a training session that had begun at Earls Colne, where a student pilot had previously completed dual circuits under the supervision of an instructor. Following these successful maneuvers, the student was cleared to perform solo circuits.
During the second solo circuit, the student pilot attempted a normal landing. As the aircraft descended into a low hover, it began to yaw left and right by approximately 10 degrees. In an attempt to stabilize the aircraft, the pilot increased the hover height to between 6 and 8 feet. However, during a subsequent descent, the rear of the left skid made contact with the ground. This contact caused the rotation to accelerate, and the helicopter pivoted around the contact point. The aircraft struck the ground, resulting in the skids breaking away and the tail boom detaching. The main rotor blades struck the ground and were destroyed, and the impact ripped the rotor head and main gearbox assembly from the fuselage. The student pilot sustained a minor injury to the head, requiring stitches, but was able to exit the wreckage safely.
The investigation
Investigators examined the sequence of events leading to the impact and the mechanical state of the aircraft. The investigation established that the student pilot had been performing solo exercises with recent experience, including two days of solo circuits. The instructor had specifically briefed the student on handling differences for solo flight and had adjusted the aircraft's ballast to compensate for the lack of an instructor's weight.
Findings
- The accident occurred during a solo training circuit at Southend Airport.
- The aircraft began to yaw during the descent to a low hover.
- The contact of the left skid with the ground initiated a rapid rotation of the aircraft.
- The impact caused extensive structural damage, including the detachment of the tail boom and the destruction of the main rotor blades.