What happened
On January 10, 2012, a student pilot was performing a solo training flight at Egelsbach Airfield. The flight consisted of a series of circuit patterns under the supervision of a flight instructor, who was monitoring the operations from the control tower. The student pilot had successfully completed six circuits, involving touchdown on the ground, before attempting the seventh and final planned landing.
During this final approach, while the Robinson R2LL Beta II was hovering over the designated helicopter landing area, the aircraft suddenly rolled to the left around its longitudinal axis. This motion caused the main rotor to strike the ground at approximately 14:30 local time. The helicopter subsequently came to rest on its left side. The pilot was able to exit the wreckage without any injuries.
The investigation
The BFU examined the accident site at the Egelsbach landing pad, noting that the aircraft lay on its left side with impact marks visible in the ground to the west of the wreckage. All detached components remained within the perimeter of the landing area. The investigation found that the main rotor blades were bent, the rotor mast was tilted forward, and the tail boom was bent downward. The instrument cluster had also been torn from the cockpit.
Technical examination of the Robinson R22 Beta II revealed no evidence of mechanical failure or technical malfunction. The aircraft's maintenance records showed it had undergone its last 100-hour inspection in December 2011, and its airworthiness certificate was valid at the time of the accident.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a dynamic rollover.
- The aircraft entered a state where a skid acted as a pivot point while a rolling moment was applied around the longitudinal axis, exceeding the critical angle.
- There were no injuries to the pilot.
- The aircraft sustained heavy damage.