What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Flight was student's first solo. Instructor flew with the student that day prior to solo. Student performed 3 solo flights around the pattern. Student proceeded to hover taxi to pick up the instructor and lost control of the helicopter. The tail of the helicopter contacted the ramp and the tail rotor blades departed.
As the FAA filed it
FLIGHT WAS STUDENT'S FIRST SOLO. INSTRUCTOR FLEW WITH THE STUDENT THAT DAY PRIOR TO SOLO. STUDENT PERFORMED 3 SOLO FLIGHTS AROUND THE PATTERN. STUDENT PROCEEDED TO HOVER TAXI TO PICK UP THE INSTRUCTOR AND LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER. THE TAIL OF THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED THE RAMP AND THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES DEPARTED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.