What happened
On 28 September 2010, a Robinson R22 Beta, registration G-HRBS, was involved in an accident during a private flight at Goodwood Aerodrome, West Sussex. The pilot had recently completed a training session with an instructor and intended to perform solo circuit practice. During the takeoff roll on the grass area, the aircraft began to tilt sharply to the right as the right skid dug into the soft ground.
As the aircraft became airborne, it began to rotate. In an attempt to prevent a full rollover, the pilot reduced power and applied an aggressive left cyclic input. This correction caused the aircraft to lift slightly and rotate to the left, at which point the rear of the right skid struck the ground again, causing the aircraft to land heavily. Following the event, the pilot continued with the planned flight, completing several circuits without further handling issues.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft and identified a three-inch crease in the right side of the tail section, specifically where the tail meets the main fuselage. The damage was attributed to the torsion loads generated when the skid impacted the ground. The pilot was unaware of this structural damage at the time and continued the flight. The investigation also noted that the pilot believed the incident was caused by over-controlling the aircraft in response to the initial tilt.