Incident Overview
On 22 September 2011 at 1500 UTC, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter (registration G-BXUC) was involved in an accident at Gloucestershire Airport during a training flight. The helicopter, manufactured in 1988 and powered by a single Lycoming O-320-B2C piston engine, had only the pilot on board. The pilot, aged 26 and holding a Private Pilot’s Licence, was uninjured. No passengers were carried.
Sequence of Events
After landing, the pilot hover-taxied the helicopter to the apron near the helicopter operator’s facilities. While attempting to throttle back, the pilot inadvertently increased engine power. This action, combined with a left yaw pedal input applied during the landing, caused the helicopter to rotate rapidly to the left. The helicopter completed approximately six horizontal rotations before the pilot regained control.
Final Position and Damage
The helicopter came to rest upright with the rear of the landing skids embedded in the grass at the side of the apron. The skin of the tailboom buckled and its supporting structure became distorted. Ground markings from the incident were observed.
Investigation
Information for this report was provided by the pilot via an Aircraft Accident Report Form. The AAIB Bulletin (5/2012) documented the details. No probable cause was explicitly stated in the source.