AAIU Reports

SYNOPSIS

While attempting to land at Weston Aerodrome, the aircraft overran the end of Runway (RWY) 07, penetrated the boundary hedgerow and came to a halt on a local minor public road. The aircraft experienced significant damage.  However, neither the pilot nor the passenger, were injured.

SYNOPSIS

The aircraft departed from Dublin Airport (EIDW) for Donegal International Airport (EIDL) at Carrickfin, Co. Donegal at 12.23 hrs.  At 2700 ft Above Sea Level (ASL), during the descent to land, the aircraft experienced severe turbulence.  One of the crew and two passengers were reported injured during this event.  The aircraft landed, as intended, on Runway (RWY) 21.  The passengers and crew disembarked and a medical doctor attended the injured.

SYNOPSIS

While carrying out an instructional practice approach and landing onto a beach, the helicopter impacted the ground heavily causing extensive damage to the tail-boom, tail rotor and main rotor blades. There were no injuries.

SYNOPSIS

The accident was notified to AAIU of the Department of Public Enterprise by the duty Watch Manager, Dublin ATC. The accident investigation was carried out under S.I. No. 205 of 1997, Air Navigation (Notification and Investigation of Accident and Incidents) Regulations, 1997. Under the provisions of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 13, Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation, the USA, as the State of Manufacturer, was invited to participate in the investigation. Mr Ron Price, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was the accredited representative. Mr Richard Sanford, the UK representative of the Robinson Helicopter Company, supplied additional technical information.

The pilot was availing of a partially free flight offered by the Operator on the successful completion of his Private Pilot’s Licence (PPL) – (Rotorcraft) in June 1999. He had undergone his R22 flight training with the Operator, who presented the pilot with his completed Flight Exercise Report at the end of his course.  He planned to fly from Weston Aerodrome, Co. Kildare to Sligo Airport. While overflying Co. Longford, between the villages of Moyne and Ballinamuck, several eyewitnesses subsequently stated that they saw the helicopter at a relatively low altitude, 200-300 feet, with pieces falling from it. Almost immediately after the last reported sighting the helicopter crashed into the middle of an open field.  The aircraft was destroyed. There was post-impact fire. There were no survivors.

SYNOPSIS

While transitioning out of Birr Airfield during a solo navigational exercise, the student pilot observed that he was not climbing as normal and felt that the helicopter was suffering from a lack of power. Fearful of imminent impact with a number of obstructions ahead of his position the pilot decided to carry out an emergency landing in a field adjacent to the airfield. During the final phase of the run-on landing, the helicopter started to drift to the right and subsequently rolled over onto its right-hand side just prior to coming to a halt. The pilot evacuated the helicopter without injury.

SYNOPSIS

The Aircraft was dispatched from Stand 25 and was pushed back and proceeded along the South apron taxiway. During routine checks the crew of the aircraft noted a light on in the cockpit to indicate that the aircraft cargo door was open. The aircraft was halted and a dispatch technician sought. As the technician was returning from adjusting the door he was caught by the No.2 engine jetblast and knocked to the ground. He later discovered, that in falling, he had fractured his wrist.

SYNOPSIS

The aircraft, which was on a checkout flight, took off from Weston Aerodrome at 1700 hours on 15 July 1999.   It was the intention of the instructor to complete a half hour flight and then return to the field.  Whilst the aircraft was being configured for the final approach by the co-pilot to Runway 25 the engine failed and could not be restarted.   The instructor immediately took  control of the aircraft and elected to carry out an emergency landing in a cornfield 1 NM north east of the runway threshold.   On landing, the nose strut collapsed and the aircraft inverted.  There was no fire.

SYNOPSIS

While descending into Cork Airport (EICK) the flight crew experienced severe airframe vibrations. An emergency was declared and the aircraft landed without further incident at EICK.  There were no injuries to passengers or crew.  After landing it was found that a large panel at the fuselage/wing joint had become detached along its trailing edge. Further examination detected significant cracking in this panel.

SYNOPSIS

During climb-out from Stansted Airport (EGSS), the flight crew experienced an illumination of the “Master Caution” indicating “Overhead” on the main instrument panel. A short time later, the “Master Caution” (Overhead) illuminated again, followed by an additional warning light on the rear overhead panel, indicating that the passenger oxygen masks had automatically deployed in the cabin. Having reached FL 143, the aircraft was descended to and levelled at FL 100, where further analysis by the flight crew determined that the pressurisation system had not been properly configured for flight. The aircraft returned to the airport of departure, where it landed without further incident. There were no reported injuries to passengers or aircrew.

SYNOPSIS

Following a 20 minute flight the aircraft stalled in a left base turn to land at Minnistown private airfield.  The aircraft landed heavily in a small field and inverted.