Aircraft and Flight Details
The accident involved a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter, registration G-TOMM, powered by a single Lycoming O-360-J2A piston engine. The aircraft was manufactured in 2002. The flight was a training sortie conducted on 12 October 2009 at 1508 UTC. The sole occupant was a 39-year-old student pilot with 28 hours of total flying experience, all on type, and 5 hours in the last 90 days. This was his second solo flight.
Accident Sequence
After completing a training flight with an instructor, the student was cleared for three solo circuits. The instructor reported that the wind was light and variable. The instructor observed that the circuits were flown accurately. The student repositioned and landed the helicopter on the apron. Upon touchdown, the student lowered the collective fully before setting the friction adjustment. The instructor briefly turned away and then heard the helicopter's engine noise increase.
The student recalled that as he moved his left hand to set the cyclic friction, the helicopter started to shudder and began to rotate to the right. He attempted to control the rotation using pedal inputs and confirmed that the collective was fully down. The helicopter then began to lift, and the student, believing it was going to topple onto its side, pitched the cyclic forward. After rotating approximately three times, the helicopter struck the ground nose-first.
Damage and Outcome
The main rotor blades struck the ground and also severed the tail boom. The helicopter then settled onto its skids. The student shut down the engine by turning the ignition switch key, and he exited through the cabin door. He was uninjured. The helicopter sustained significant damage to the main rotor blades and the tail boom was severed; it was damaged beyond economic repair.