What happened
On 11 February 2012, a Robinson R44 Raven, registration G-SRPH, was involved in an accident during a private flight near Crossmaglen, Northern Ireland. The pilot was attempting to take off from a restricted area surrounded by several small buildings. As the helicopter lifted off, it experienced a leftward yaw. In an effort to stabilize the aircraft, the pilot applied opposite pedal inputs but subsequently over-corrected the movement.
During the maneuver, the aircraft yawed approximately 180 degrees. The pilot then increased collective pitch in an attempt to climb away from the obstacles. During this sequence, the tail of the helicopter struck the ground, and the main and tail rotor blades collided with a nearby Portakabin. The impact caused severe damage to the structure and the aircraft, specifically affecting the tail boom, rotor blades, doors, and various panels. The aircraft eventually came to rest upright on its skids, and the pilot escaped without injury.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight dynamics and the pilot's actions during the takeoff phase. Investigators noted that the surface wind was westerly at 8 knots with no significant weather conditions present. The pilot, who had not flown for 90 days prior to the event, provided information regarding the sequence of control inputs. The investigation focused on the interaction between the pilot's corrective actions and the aircraft's response in the confined environment.