What happened
On 29 March 2014, a Robinson R22 Beta, registration G-BYCF, was involved in an accident at Elstree Aerodrome, Hertfordshire. The flight was a training mission, and the student pilot was performing his second solo flight on type following a dual lesson.
As the student began increasing collective pitch to lift off from the grass surface, he noted that the aircraft was low on the right side. He believed this imbalance was due to the instructor's absence from the left seat. In an attempt to correct this, the pilot applied left cyclic input while continuing to raise the collective. This action caused the helicopter to roll rapidly to the left, resulting in the main rotor blade striking the ground. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, though the pilot escaped with only minor injuries.
The investigation
The investigation examined the sequence of events leading to the impact and the physical mechanics of the roll. The AAIB established that the pilot was attempting a solo lift from a grass surface under fine weather conditions. The investigation focused on the interaction between the pilot's control inputs and the aircraft's contact with the ground during the takeoff phase.