What happened
On 13 April 2006, an Enstrom 280C helicopter, registration G-BXEE, was involved in an accident at Sandtoft Aerodrome, Doncaster, during a training flight. The instructor was teaching a student how to perform a hover taxi at a height of approximately 5 feet above the grass. During the maneuver, the instructor applied insufficient power, causing the main rotor blades to over-pitch.
In an attempt to recover, the instructor lowered the collective and transitioned into a run-on landing. During this process, the aircraft's left skid caught the ground, causing the helicopter to roll onto its left side. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the tail, cabin, and both the main and tail rotors. Both occupants, wearing four-point harnesses, exited the aircraft through the right door without injury.
The investigation
Investigators examined the mechanical and operational factors leading to the loss of rotor RPM. It was established that the instructor was managing the engine RPM manually by adjusting the collective-mounted throttle, as the aircraft lacks an engine governor or correlator. The investigation also noted that while the aircraft was equipped with a low rotor RPM warning horn, it lacked a visual warning light.
Furthermore, the investigation looked into the pilot's experience, noting that while the instructor was highly experienced, he had only 10 hours of flight time on this specific model, having previously trained on Robinson R22 and R44 helicopters.