What happened
On 4 June 2001, a Robinson R22 Alpha, registration G-VMSL, was conducting a training flight as part of a qualifying cross-country navigation exercise. The flight was traveling from Sywell toward Turwestown. As the aircraft approached the destination, the student pilot determined that the altitude was too high for a direct approach to the landing area and initiated a left turn to reposition for the landing.
While performing this orbit at approximately 700 feet above ground level, the pilot lost visual contact with the airfield. In an attempt to confirm the aircraft's position, the pilot began consulting a map. During this period, the helicopter began to shudder, and the airspeed dropped to 20 knots or less. The pilot noted that the cyclic controls were losing effectiveness as the aircraft entered a rapid descent.
In response to the descent, the pilot fully lowered the collective to enter an autorotation. The aircraft regained an airspeed of roughly 50 knots, allowing the pilot to target a nearby landing area. The helicopter touched down in a rough crop field with residual forward speed and subsequently rolled onto its side during the ground slide. The aircraft sustained extensive damage, but the pilot escaped through the broken canopy without injury.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the sequence of events leading to the loss of control and the aircraft's performance during the descent. The investigation focused on the pilot's actions during the turn and the impact of secondary tasks on flight stability.