TORRANCE, CA, USA
N40231
ROBINSON R-22B
THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING HOVERING AND TURNING AROUND A POINT MANEUVERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH HIS SOLO FLIGHT ENDORSEMENT. WHILE HOVERING SEVERAL FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL THE NOSE OF THE HELICOPTER PITCHED UP AND THE TAIL ROTOR CONTACTED THE GROUND AND BROKE. THEREAFTER, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER AND IT ROLLED OVER. THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT HAD LOGGED 2194 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME IN FIXED WING AIRPLANES. HE HAD 26.2 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME IN HELICOPTERS. THE PILOT'S TOTAL SOLO PIC FLIGHT TIME IN THE ACCIDENT HELICOPTER, WHICH HE WAS LEARNING TO FLY, WAS 3.2 HOURS.
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE ROTORCRAFT'S FLIGHT CONTROLS. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE RELATED TO THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF LOW ALTITUDE MANEUVER.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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