What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) The student pilot was conducting his first solo flight in a R-22 helicopter after being endorsed by his instructor. The student pilot completed his systems check and was waiting for two other helicopters to land to his left front. His aircraft was at operational rotor speed with the collective in the full down position. The student pilot states that for unknown reasons the helicopter initially turned to the left and rotated right for two revolutions while becoming airborne one to two feet. The aircraft came off the ground in a nose high pitch striking and breaking the aft portion of the skid tubes. The aircraft main rotor blades struck the ground prior to the aircraft coming to rest on the right side. The pilot exited the aircraft after securing the engine, fuel and electrical switches.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) THE STUDENT PILOT WAS CONDUCTING HIS FIRST SOLO FLIGHT IN A R-22 HELICOPTER AFTER BEING ENDORSED BY HIS INSTRUCTOR. THE STUDENT PILOT COMPLETED HIS SYSTEMS CHECK AND WAS WAITING FOR TWO OTHER HELICOPTERS TO LAND TO HIS LEFT FRONT. HIS AIRCRAFT WAS AT OPERATIONAL ROTOR SPEED WITH THE COLLECTIVE IN THE FULL DOWN POSITION. THE STUDENT PILOT STATES THAT FOR UNKNOWN REASONS THE HELICOPTER INITIALLY TURNED TO THE LEFT AND ROTATED RIGHT FOR TWO REVOLUTIONS WHILE BECOMING AIRBORNE ONE TO TWO FEET. THE AIRCRAFT CAME OFF THE GROUND IN A NOSE HIGH PITCH STRIKING AND BREAKING THE AFT PORTION OF THE SKID TUBES. THE AIRCRAFT MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE GROUND PRIOR TO THE AIRCRAFT COMING TO REST ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE PILOT EXITED THE AIRCRAFT AFTER SECURING THE ENGINE, FUEL AND ELECTRICAL SWITCHES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.