Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's improper use of flight controls which resulted in a collision with a fence.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
According to the student pilot, he lifted the collective control of the helicopter and it began to turn left. The pilot lowered the collective control, applied right anti-torque input, and added power. The helicopter began spinning to the right, collided with a fence, and the helicopter rolled over on its right side and came to a stop. Examination of the helicopter revealed the tail boom separated from the airframe and the man rotor blades were buckled at the main rotor mass. The student pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the helicopter.
Source record
Factual narrative
On October 31, 2005 at 1130 eastern daylight time, a Robinson Beta II helicopter, N861MP, registered to and operated by Blue Ridge Helicopters Inc., collided with the ground at Gwinnett County - Briscoe Field, Lawrenceville, Georgia, and was substantially damaged. The student pilot was not injured. The instructional flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. According to the student pilot, he lifted the collective control of the helicopter and it began to turn left. The pilot lowered the collective control, applied right anti-torque input, and added power. The helicopter began spinning to the right, and then collided with a fence. The helicopter rolled over on the right side and came to a stop. Examination of the helicopter revealed the tail boom separated from the airframe and the main rotor blades were buckled at the main rotor mass. The student pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the helicopter.