N622MPRobinson Helicopter R22 BETA · 2006

The student pilot reported that while hovering, the helicopter encountered a gust of wind and began to yaw to the right. The student pilot was unable to correct for the unanticipated right yaw, resulting in the forward portion of the helicopter’s right skid impacting the ground, and a subsequent dynamic rollover. The rollover resulted in substantial damage to the main rotor blades, tail boom, tail rotor, and vertical stabilizer. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

The flight instructor in the helicopter reported that, while demonstrating a touchdown autorotation to the pilot receiving instruction, the helicopter landed in a "normal run-on landing configuration." He added that the pilot receiving instruction applied aft cyclic about 15 ft into the forward ground run. The flight instructor moved the cyclic into the neutral position and lowered the collective as quickly as possible, to slow the ground speed. The helicopter "jumped" up and yawed to the left and spun the helicopter about 150° before coming to rest. The flight instructor felt abnormal vibration in the cyclic and collective. He opened the door to inspect the helicopter and saw that the main rotor had struck the tailboom.

The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom.

The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

The automated weather observation station located 12 miles north of the accident airport reported that, about 17 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 220° at 7 knots. The helicopter landed on runway 18.

Federal Aviation Administration's Helicopter Flying Handbook, FAA-H-8083-21A, contains a section titled "Autorotation " which states:

After the helicopter has come to a complete stop after touchdown, lower the collective pitch to the full-down position. Do not try to stop the forward ground run with aft cyclic, as the main rotor blades can strike the tail boom. Rather, by lowering the collective slightly during the ground run, more weight is placed on the undercarriage, slowing the helicopter.

The helicopter flight instructor reported that the student was practicing quick-stops on the taxiway. The student was hovering with a tailwind and began to accelerate when the helicopter started a "fast yaw to the right". He added that they stopped the acceleration, checked the engine gauges, and then accelerated again. As the helicopter was going through effective translational lift (ETL), it spun to the right. The flight instructor took the flight controls, noticed the rpm was high, and reduced the throttle. The helicopter impacted the ground backwards and slid before coming to rest.

The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer.

The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 37 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 190° at 7 knots. The helicopter was taxiing to the north.