Accident to the Guimbal Cabri G2 registered F-HOLA on 12/05/2022 at Aix-les-Milles

After making several runway circuits in dual flight for runway 32 with a left crosswind component during each landing, the student-pilot took off again for a solo flight. When he returned to the aerodrome, the aerological conditions had changed, as had the runway in use. He made an approach to runway 14 with a right crosswind component and moderate gusts. After a near hover over the runway, the student-pilot hover taxied at low speed in ground effect (at a height of between two and five metres). While hover taxiing, after the controller gave him the wind force and direction, he considered that the wind was calm and did not observe the windsock to confirm the wind direction.

According to the student-pilot, as he was slowing down and before turning left to clear the runway at taxiway A, the helicopter suddenly yawed to the right. The reason for this possible departure in yaw to the right could not be determined. The student-pilot stated that he countered this departure in yaw by pressing the rudder pedals. The helicopter then started rotating about the yaw axis to the left and the student-pilot lost control. He then lowered the collective pitch lever and the helicopter landed hard after several rotations.

It was not possible to determine the student-pilot’s inputs, nor how large these were. The most likely hypothesis is that he lost control of the helicopter after inadequate or insufficient rudder pedal inputs during an unanticipated departure in yaw. It is also possible that, being close to the ground, he initially raised the collective pitch lever by instinct, which may have increased the yaw rate to the left.

The student-pilot finally lowered the collective pitch lever, as he had been taught to do in such a situation, which reduced material damage and bodily injuries resulting from this accident.