What happened
On 10 October 2001, a Robinson R2TR Beta, registration G-ELFI, was conducting a training flight from Shobdon Aerodrome in Hereford and Worcester. The weather conditions were clear with scattered clouds at 2,000 feet and a southwesterly wind of 15 knots, gusting to 25 knots.
During the flight, the instructor had already completed a successful demonstration of a practice autorotation from 800 feet. The student pilot then began a second maneuver, which involved a 180-degree turn. The instructor had briefed the student that he would take control during the final stages of the maneuver to demonstrate the appropriate flare height.
As the instructor took control with approximately 40 to 50 degrees of the turn remaining, he leveled the aircraft at an indicated airspeed of 65 knots and a rotor RPM of 102%. Despite applying aft cyclic pitch to initiate the flare, the helicopter failed to arrest its downward path. The aircraft struck the ground with significant forward speed while in a level attitude. The impact caused substantial damage to the aircraft, which subsequently rolled onto its right side. Both crew members escaped through the shattered windscreen without injury.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the flight sequence and the aircraft's mechanical condition following the impact. The instructor noted that the student had correctly followed the control inputs as briefed. A technical examination of the Robinson R22 Beta revealed no mechanical defects or malfunctions in the aircraft's systems.