Accident to the Robinson R44 registered F-HANG on 16/11/2019 at Toussus-le-Noble AD

Note: The following information is principally based on the pilot’s and instructor’s statements. This information has not been independently validated by the BEA.

This is a courtesy translation by the BEA of the Final Report on the Safety Investigation published in July 2020. As accurate as the translation may be, the original text in French is the work of reference.

1 - History of the flight

The planned flight was a local training flight in order to convert a French TTH licence into a PPL(H). Due to deteriorating weather conditions, the instructor and the pilot cancelled the local flight and conducted a work session at the aerodrome.

Before entering hover, the instructor reminded the pilot that flight control coordination was essential. The pilot indicated that he was ready to apply left pedal input.

The instructor explained that when the collective pitch lever was raised, he noticed that the pilot pushed too hard on the left rudder pedal and the helicopter's skids began to slide approximately 20-25° to the left. He asked the pilot to stop, but the pilot pushed the pedal fully down and raised the collective pitch sharply. The instructor tried to counter these actions, was able to block the collective pitch and prevented the helicopter from gaining height. However, he was unable to counter the yaw because the rudder pedal remained blocked by the pilot's action.

The helicopter oscillated several times on all three axes and struck the ground hard before the pilot stopped his rudder input and released the controls. The instructor regained control of the helicopter and landed.

The maintenance inspection revealed deformations on the landing gear legs and on various parts of the fuselage.

2 - Additional information

2.1 Weather information

At the time of the accident, the local weather conditions were an average wind of 8 to 10 knots from 130° and showers.

2.2 Crew’s experience

The 67-year-old instructor held a CPL(H) commercial pilot licence, an FI(H) helicopter instructor rating, and had logged approximately 2,700 flight hours , including 285 hours on the R44.

The 74-year-old pilot had begun his pilot training in 1985 and had obtained his private helicopter pilot licence (TTH) in 1987. Between 1985 and 1990, the pilot flew regularly and had logged about 91 flight hours, including 30 hours as pilot-in-command on the Bell 47 and Alouette 2. He had not flown since then and had started again in 2018. He then completed a one-hour dual flight on an R44 with the chief pilot at the flight school.

2.3 Statements

2.3.1 Pilot’s statement

The pilot explained that he had not flown regularly for 29 years and that he was still accustomed to flying the Alouette 2, which requires right rudder to counter the induced yaw when power is applied.

He stated that, on his previous flight on an R44, one year earlier, he had not applied enough left foot to counter the induced yaw and considered that he was probably focused on this point during the accident flight.

2.3.2 Instructor’s statement

The instructor explained that, the day before the flight, he had given the pilot an extensive theory course that included items on regulations, the characteristics of the R44, and in particular the start-up procedure. He considered, a posteriori, that the pilot's over-correction on the rudder pedal could be analysed as being related to a desire to quickly demonstrate his ability to control the helicopter, including the effects of induced yaw, from the very first moments of the flight.

The instructor added that, following this accident, the team in charge of training at the school was considering the implementation of specific conditions, based in particular on the recent experience of the pilots, before giving them the flight controls as soon as they enter hover.