Synopsis
On 27 March 2000 at 1533 hours UTC, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter, registration G-RUSO, was involved in an accident at Thruxton Airfield, Hampshire. The flight was a training exercise, with an instructor and a student on board. Both occupants were uninjured.
Sequence of Events
The instructor and student had completed the general handling element of their exercise and returned to the airfield to practice landings and takeoffs to the hover. The weather was fine with a visibility of 7 km and a moderate wind of 030°/15 to 20 kt. The student had been hovering the helicopter for approximately 5 to 10 minutes and had successfully completed two landings and takeoffs. The helicopter was then established in a stable 8-foot hover into wind. Suddenly, it started to yaw quickly to the left. The instructor took control and applied right pedal to oppose the yaw. The helicopter started to drift to the right, descended, and struck the ground before rolling onto its right side. In doing so, the rotor blades severed the tail boom, with one blade coming to rest 80 metres from the main structure. The uninjured instructor and student, both wearing lap and diagonal seat belts, vacated the helicopter through the left main door.
Pilot Information
The commander, aged 37, held a Private Pilot's Licence (Helicopters) with an instructor rating. He had a total flying experience of 313 hours, of which 268 were on type. In the last 90 days he had flown 51 hours, and in the last 28 days, 32 hours.
Damage
The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the cockpit, rotor head, and blades. The tail boom was severed.
Cause
The chief flying instructor assessed the cause of the accident as being due to the student's loss of control and the late intervention of the relatively inexperienced instructor.