Pre-Flight and Departure
The pilot, aged 46 and holding a Private Pilot's Licence (Helicopters) with 538 total hours (33 on type), planned a local flight with one passenger. After discussing the flight with the duty instructor, the pilot completed pre-flight preparations. The weather was fine with light southerly wind, good visibility, broken cloud at 2,500 feet, and temperature 20°C.
On arrival, the passenger was strapped in and briefed on seatbelts, door operation, emergency procedures, and the location of the fuel cock and master electrics switch. After engine start, the pilot completed pre-take-off checks and requested take-off clearance from the tower. It was then discovered that the passenger's headset was unserviceable, so the duty instructor agreed to fetch a replacement from the hangar.
Headset Issue and Delay
While waiting for the replacement headset, the pilot kept his hands and feet on the controls with yaw pedals and cyclic pitch control centralised and the collective pitch control held fully down. The helicopter parked to the right had started its engine and was stationary with rotors turning. A student pilot had begun an external inspection of the helicopter on the left. The pilot had released the control friction in readiness for take-off but did not recall re-setting the collective friction during the delay.
The instructor returned with a replacement headset, handed it to the pilot, and then walked around the front of the helicopter to exit the rotor disc at the 9 to 10 o'clock position.
Sudden Yaw and Loss of Control
As the instructor walked away, before exiting the disc area, the helicopter, still on the ground, began to yaw rapidly to the left. The pilot applied right pedal but it appeared to have little effect. Realising the instructor was close by and the tail rotor was turning toward him, the pilot instinctively pulled up on the collective pitch lever and applied right cyclic pitch control to manoeuvre onto the grass clear of the instructor and adjacent helicopters. The helicopter lifted a few feet into the air, completed at least one full 360° turn, and descended onto its skids before rolling onto its right side and skidding 2 to 3 metres along the ground.
Aftermath
After coming to rest, the passenger turned off the fuel cock, but the pilot could not reach the master electrics switch. Both occupants vacated the helicopter unaided via the left door. No ground personnel or other helicopters were struck. The passenger sustained minor injuries; the pilot reported none. The helicopter was damaged beyond economic repair.
Pilot's Observations
In a comprehensive report to the AAIB, the pilot listed several factors he believed contributed to the event: distraction caused by the headset problem and conversation with the instructor; possible failure to re-apply collective pitch friction during the delay; late application of corrective yaw control once rotation began; lifting into a low hover in an uncontrolled manner; and failing to stabilise before 'snatching' the cyclic pitch control to the right. The instructor commented that rotor RPM could have been reduced to an idle setting (70-80%) while the headset issue was being resolved.