What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Instructor and student departed from bfi to pwt. At pwt they conducted a couple of practice landings. When the instructor decided to let the student attempt his first solo they moved off the taxiway, he briefed the student and arranged ballast in the aircraft and moved to a position to observe. Upon the student attempting his first solo takeoff the skid caught the sod and caused a dynamic rollover. The instructor was in radio contact with the student and instructed him to shut the engine and master off and assisted him out of the aircraft. The instructor stated he should have put the helicopter back on the taxiway so the students first solo liftoff was from a firm surface.
As the FAA filed it
INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT DEPARTED FROM BFI TO PWT. AT PWT THEY CONDUCTED A COUPLE OF PRACTICE LANDINGS. WHEN THE INSTRUCTOR DECIDED TO LET THE STUDENT ATTEMPT HIS FIRST SOLO THEY MOVED OFF THE TAXIWAY, HE BRIEFED THE STUDENT AND ARRANGED BALLAST IN THE AIRCRAFT AND MOVED TO A POSITION TO OBSERVE. UPON THE STUDENT ATTEMPTING HIS FIRST SOLO TAKEOFF THE SKID CAUGHT THE SOD AND CAUSED A DYNAMIC ROLLOVER. THE INSTRUCTOR WAS IN RADIO CONTACT WITH THE STUDENT AND INSTRUCTED HIM TO SHUT THE ENGINE AND MASTER OFF AND ASSISTED HIM OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED HE SHOULD HAVE PUT THE HELICOPTER BACK ON THE TAXIWAY SO THE STUDENTS FIRST SOLO LIFTOFF WAS FROM A FIRM SURFACE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.