ATL83LA379

Factual narrative

THE PLT HELD A COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATE, BUT WAS A STUDENT IN HELICOPTER FLYING. HE HAD OVER 15,000 HRS TOTAL TIME IN AIRPLANES, BUT ONLY APRX 13 HRS OF EXPERIENCE IN HELICOPTERS. ON HIS 1ST SOLO FLT IN A HELICOPTER, HE WAS MAKING APPROACHES TO A GRASSY AREA BESIDE A RWY. ON 1 APCH, HE TRANSITIONED FROM A 60 KT APPROACH TO A HOVER. THE APPROACH WAS MADE ON A HEADING OF 240 DEG IN VARIABLE WIND CONDITIONS THAT PREVAILED FROM 205 DEG AT 5 KTS. REPORTEDLY, THE PLT FLARED & STOPPED HIS FORWARD MOVEMENT AT ABOUT 4 FT AGL; HOWEVER, THE NOSE CONTINUED UP & STARTED YAWING TO THE RIGHT, THEN THE HELICOPTER TURNED APRX 270 DEG TO THE RIGHT & THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE GROUND. THE PLT RECALLED SEEING AN INDICATION OF 2800 ENG RPM BEFORE HE LOST CONTROL. A CERTIFIED FLT INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT 2800 RPM WAS MARGINAL FOR MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12