Accident Details
On 18 July 1999 at 0914 UTC, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter, registration G-OICV, was involved in an accident at Blackpool Airport, Lancashire. The helicopter was being used for private training with an instructor and a student on board. Neither occupant was injured.
The aircraft was manufactured in 1989 and powered by a single Lycoming O-320-B2C piston engine. The commander, aged 34, held a Private Pilot's Licence with an Instructor Rating and had accumulated 1,521 flying hours, of which 1,250 were on type. In the preceding 90 days he had flown 226 hours, and 43 hours in the last 28 days.
Weather and Briefing
The weather conditions included light rain, wind from 270° at 12 knots, visibility more than 10 km, QNH 1013 mb, and an air temperature of 17°C. The instructor briefed the student for a hovering exercise planned near the eastern end of the airport.
Sequence of Events
The instructor performed an air taxi towards the exercise area at an indicated airspeed of approximately 40 knots. As he turned the helicopter into the wind, it began to descend. The instructor raised the collective lever to reduce the rate of descent, but the helicopter still struck the ground heavily with a forward ground speed of 15 to 20 knots.
During the subsequent ground run, the helicopter yawed to the left and then toppled onto its right-hand side. The instructor and student exited the helicopter through the left-hand door before the fire service arrived. There was no fire.
Damage
The helicopter sustained substantial damage.