AAIU Reports

At 11.30 hours the aircraft took off on the flight, towing an advertising banner from Weston Airfield, for a 2 hour flying detail in the Dublin south city area.  At 12.50 hours, whilst the aircraft was over Perrystown, the banner became detached from the aircraft and fell to the ground.

SYNOPSIS

At approximately 07.55 hours G-MIDH commenced push-back from Stand 40 at Dublin Airport.  The push-back crew consisted of the tug driver, a wingman and an engineer.  The push-back proceeded normally until just before turning on to the taxiway when the cab of the tug came in contact with the aircraft"s radome.  The airport’s duty officer, on listening to the RT between the aircraft’s crew and ATC, informed the Air Accident Investigation Unit.

SYNOPSIS

While landing on Runway 29 at Kilrush Airfield, the Pilot elected to initiate a late go-around, as he believed that the braking action was insufficient to stop the aircraft before the boundary hedge. Shortly after becoming airborne, the aircraft struck the boundary hedge with its undercarriage and continued on into the adjacent field, where it impacted heavily on its main wheels. The aircraft then bounced twice before it penetrated a second hedge. The aircraft yawed 90° to the right as it crossed to the far side of the main Athy to Kilcullen road (N78), where it finally came to rest. The aircraft was extensively damaged.

SYNOPSIS

While routing from Abbeyshrule to Waterford Airport, the engine started to run intermittently and lost power.  The pilot selected a large field as a suitable site for an emergency landing.  On landing in this field the aircraft over-turned and was substantially damaged. The engine failure was found to have been caused by a blockage in the fuel line.    

SYNOPSIS

The home-built aircraft took off from Abbeyshrule Airfield Runway 28 at 13.20hrs. After reaching a height of between 200 and 300 feet, the aircraft's engine lost power abruptly. The pilot selected a suitable field in which to land, running at 90 degrees to the left of his direction of flight. He turned the aircraft, descended, side-slipped over a hedge and landed the aircraft. The undercarriage was damaged on impact with the ground and the aircraft came to a halt approx. 30 metres further on. The pilot exited the aircraft. Apart from a slight bump to the head there were no other injuries to the pilot. There was no fire.

Synopsis

The aircraft was on a regular night cargo flight between Cologne, Germany, and Shannon Airport, Ireland, with an intermediate stop at Dublin Airport.  The flight from Cologne to Dublin was uneventful.  After unloading and taking on new freight at Dublin the aircraft was cleared by ATC to Flight Level (FL) 120 for a direct track to Shannon.  A standard ILS approach was flown to RWY 24 at Shannon.  At the point of touchdown, as some of the propeller blades struck the RWY surface, the crew realised that the aircraft undercarriage was not extended so they initiated an immediate go-around.  As the aircraft climbed most of No. 3 engine disintegrated and fell from the aircraft to the ground.  Debris from this engine damaged No. 4 engine and also perforated the cabin structure, aft of the cockpit jump seats.  With only No. 1 engine fully operative and No. 2 engine on reduced power, the crew managed with great difficulty to sufficiently control the aircraft and carry out a successful landing on RWY 24, with the full Shannon Airport Fire Services in attendance.  The crew shut down the remaining engines and they and the passengers evacuated the aircraft safely.  There was no fire.

Synopsis

SYNOPSIS

In the course of an SAR operation to lift a casualty from sea cliffs near Waterford, a thermal blanket was lifted by the rotor downwash and became briefly entangled in the helicopters rotors, causing a temporary loss of lift, which resulted in uncontrolled loss of altitude.

Synopsis 

The flight was tasked by Garda Operations The normal operational height was between 800/1000 feet above ground level.  Some 9 miles north of Ennis, Co. Clare the helicopter inadvertently entered cloud and, in reacting, the pilot quickly raised the collective pitch lever, the aircraft yawed and climbed and levelled off at 1700 feet in IMC.  With the weather conditions worse than forecast the pilot decided to return to Shannon Airport and flew on a heading of 175º back to that airport.  However, the radar operator at Shannon issued a correction to this heading of some 90º which the pilot followed.  He landed back at Shannon Airport at 0040 hours.

SYNOPSIS

The pilot was cleared by Dublin ATC. While on a southwesterly heading from Loughshinny Pier, the pilot felt a sudden shudder in his machine, and within 1 or 2 seconds the engine RPM went to zero and the LV (low voltage) light came on.

The pilot carried out the normal autorotation landing. The aircraft skid undercarriage dug into field drills and tipped it over on its nose.  Both pilot and passenger exited through the pilot"s door.  There was no post crash fire.   Emergency services brought the pilot and passenger were to Beaumount hospital for observation.  Following tests they were released later that night.