N4001B

On September 22, 1994, at 1830 hours Pacific daylight time, a Robinson R-22 helicopter, N4001B, rolled over and crashed shortly after lifting off at Ranchaero Airport, Chico, California. The certificated private pilot/helicopter student pilot was beginning his second supervised solo local area flight. The helicopter, operated by Sierra Aviation, Chico, California, sustained substantial damage. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated as a dual instructional flight at Ranchaero Airport at 1745 hours.

National Transportation Safety Board investigators interviewed the student pilot's instructor via telephone on September 22, 1994. The instructor said that before beginning the second supervised solo he gave the student between 30 and 40 minutes of dual instruction.

When the instructor deplaned the helicopter, he reminded the student that when he lifted off he would probably have to use more left cyclic than he was used to. The student pilot began the lift off. When the helicopter was light on the skids, the helicopter began to roll to the right. The instructor saw the student apply "some left cyclic, but not enough." The helicopter then yawed to the left and the right skid dug into the soft terrain. The helicopter's rotor blades then struck the terrain and the helicopter came to rest on its right side.