Incident
On 27 May 2005 at 1950 hours UTC, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter, registration G-SUMT, crashed while hover taxiing at Sherburn in Elmet Aerodrome, Leeds. The helicopter was on a private flight with a pilot in the right seat and a Robinson R22-rated pilot in the left seat. Both crew members sustained minor injuries, and the helicopter sustained extensive damage.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The helicopter was a 1992 Robinson R22 Beta, powered by a single Lycoming O-320-B2C piston engine. The commander, aged 53, held a Private Pilot's Licence and had a total flying experience of 63 hours, all on type, with 3 hours in the last 90 days and 3 hours in the last 28 days.
Sequence of Events
After a short local flight lasting about 30 minutes, the pilot made an approach to Runway 06 at Sherburn in Elmet Aerodrome. On departure, the wind had been about 11 kt from 030°. The pilot approached to the right and parallel with the runway. Weather was good, although visibility was becoming hazy. The pilot descended to about 15 feet above ground level (agl) over the aerodrome and began to hover taxi toward the intended landing area.
The pilot subsequently recalled that there were no other aircraft in the area and that the windsock appeared to be "Full." However, after that moment, he could not recall anything else until he regained consciousness in the wreckage.
The left-seat pilot, who was rated on the R22, confirmed that although dual controls were fitted, his hands and feet were clear of the controls at the time of the accident. He recalled that the pilot flew a normal approach and was coming to a halt nearly into wind at about 5 feet agl when the helicopter started to turn left. He then became aware of a rapidly increasing turn rate but could not be certain about the direction. The helicopter struck the ground hard moving backwards.
Witness Account
The aerodrome was closed at the time, so no Air/Ground Operator was on duty. However, a resident fixed-wing flying instructor was walking in the area and witnessed part of the accident. He had watched the helicopter make an approach on a heading of about 060° to a hover height of about 6 feet agl and then hover taxi in the same direction. He looked away and when he looked back, the helicopter had pitched nose up and was yawed to the right. It then appeared to slide back to contact the ground tail first. The witness estimated the surface wind at the time as 030°/12 to 15 kt, a wind direction that would not normally result in turbulence on the aerodrome.
Investigation Findings
Enquiries with a type training organisation confirmed that the anti-torque pedals on the R22 are very effective and that left pedal would be used to counter any yaw caused by application of collective lever as the helicopter comes to a hover. Additionally, there would have been a wind-induced left yaw as the helicopter came to the hover on a heading of about 060°. The pilot subsequently confirmed that there had been no unserviceabilities with the helicopter on the flight prior to the final hover.