What happened
On 26 June 2010, a Robinson R44 Astro, registration G-PIDG, was conducting a private flight near the Devonshire Arms Country House Hotel in Skipton, North Yorkshire. The pilot was following another helicopter to a private landing site featuring two helipads. Because the pilot had not previously visited this location, he felt somewhat unprepared during the approach.
While the lead aircraft landed on the larger pad, the pilot of G-PIDly opted to land in a nearby field due to concerns regarding the proximity of members of the public to the smaller helipad. During the final approach, the pilot gripped the throttle too tightly, which likely overrode the engine governor. This action caused a reduction in rotor RPM, triggering a low rotor RPM warning. Consequently, the aircraft made a heavy landing. As the pilot attempted to apply collective pitch to transition into a hover, the helicopter rolled onto its right side, possibly because a skid dug into the ground. The impact resulted in extensive damage to the aircraft, though both the pilot and the passenger vacated the cabin without injury.
The investigation
Following the accident, the AAIB conducted an inquiry based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The investigation focused on the pilot's approach to the unfamiliar landing site and the mechanical behavior of the engine governor during the landing phase. The investigation established that the pilot's manual manipulation of the throttle was the primary factor in the loss of rotor RPM.