Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA N822SH accident near Houston, Texas

Probable cause

The student pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff, resulting in a dynamic rollover of the helicopter.

NTSB analysis

The student helicopter pilot was preparing for his fourth scheduled solo flight, intending to depart on a local flight. The student reported that as he started to raise the helicopter’s collective, the helicopter started to slide to the right. He added that he stopped moving the collective and applied left cyclic, and the helicopter stopped moving. He then continued to raise the collective to begin his hover. The helicopter rolled-over to the right, and impacted the ground. The flight instructor who was watching the student reported that he saw the helicopter move to the right about a foot, stop, and then, as the helicopter started to lift, it instantaneously rolled to the right and struck the ground. After the accident, both the instructor and student stated that it appeared the helicopter’s skid may have gotten caught in a crack on the ramp’s cement surface.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN10CA156 for the full record.