| Crash location | 42.339166°N, 71.505278°W
Reported location is a long distance from the NTSB's reported nearest city. This often means that the location has a typo, or is incorrect. |
| Nearest city | Marlboro, MA
42.716759°N, 70.973110°W 37.6 miles away |
| Tail number | N791SH |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 10 Apr 2011 |
| Aircraft type | Robinson R22 |
| Additional details: | None |
The student pilot stated that prior to departure for a solo cross-country flight, his flight instructor informed him he would notice extra aft weight when lifting off as this was the first time flying the helicopter solo with full fuel tanks. The student pilot stated that as the helicopter became light on its skids, he felt it tilt aft, and corrected with the application of cyclic and anti-torque pedals. As he raised the collective and lifted off the ground, the helicopter turned to the right, and he immediately lowered the collective and set the helicopter back down. The helicopter's tail skid “stinger” impacted the ground, and the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. The student pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the helicopter, and that the right turn may have been prevented by additional left anti-torque pedal application.
The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.