What happened
On the morning of 22 July 2018, a student pilot was conducting solo transition training at Port Elizabeth International Airport. Prior to the solo flight, the pilot had completed a training session accompanied by an instructor, during which the instructor had deactivated the governor switch for a hover turn maneuver. After the instructor disembarked and the governor was reactivated, the student pilot attempted to lift off into a hover.
As the pilot attempted to transition from a hover into flight, the Robinson R2 and2 Beta, registration ZS-RCY, experienced a significant yaw to the right. This movement caused the trailing edge of the left skid to strike the ground with force. In response to the impact, the pilot immediately lowered the collective to bring both skids firmly onto the surface.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID confirmed that the aircraft sustained damage to the lower left frame. There were no injuries to the pilot. The investigation verified that the pilot held a valid student pilot license and a current medical certificate. Furthermore, the aircraft was found to have a valid Certificate of Airworthiness and Certificate of Registration. Maintenance records indicated that the helicopter's last mandatory periodic inspection had been completed in June 2018, with approximately 86.7 airframe hours flown since that inspection.