NTSB Factual Report

The helicopter pilot reported that he allowed his non-rated passenger to "try his hovering skills" at 3ft AGL. The pilot told the passenger, "You have the aircraft" and the pilot removed his hands from the flight controls. The passenger pushed the cyclic to its forward limit, and the helicopter impacted the ground.

The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor and tail rotor drive systems, and the fuselage.

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s decision to relinquish the helicopter flight controls to a non-rated passenger during a 3 ft hover.