The AAIU has published an Interim Statement of a fatal accident involving a Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter (N999RL) that occurred at Kennycourt, Co. Kildare on 11 December 2022 at 15:45 hrs. This Interim Statement does not contain analysis or conclusions.

The purpose of this Interim Statement is to detail the progress of the Investigation. For completeness, this Interim Statement should be read in conjunction with the Preliminary Report (AAIU Report No. 2023-001), which was published on 10 January 2023.

At approximately 16:10 hrs on 6 October 2019, the aircraft, a Rollason D.62B Condor, registration EI-BDX, departed ILAS Field (EIIF) near Taghmon, Co. Wexford, for a flight which was planned to last approximately one hour. There were two persons on board the aircraft: the Pilot, who was seated in the left seat, and an Instructor, who was seated in the right seat. Witnesses reported that at approximately 16:40 hrs, the aircraft emitted a loud noise and broke up in the air in the Duncormick area of Co. Wexford. Local persons proceeded to the scene and the emergency services that had attended determined that both occupants had been fatally injured. The aircraft was destroyed. There was no fire.

The helicopter, an Alouette II, was parked near a helipad at Newcastle Airfield. The Pilot, who was the sole occupant, started the engine and performed a lift-off. The helicopter hover-taxied at a low height along a grass taxiway before it commenced an uncommanded yaw to the left from which the Pilot was unable to recover. The helicopter impacted with terrain and sustained substantial damage. The Pilot, who was occupying the right-hand seat, was seriously injured in the accident. The accident caused a small grass fire which was quickly extinguished by individuals who came to the assistance of the Pilot.

Whilst disembarking the aircraft at Dublin Airport, following a scheduled flight from Arrecife Lanzarote Airport, a Passenger fell while descending the forward aircraft stairs (airstair). The Passenger fell from close to the top of the airstair, collided with another disembarking Passenger who tried to arrest the fall, and landed on the ground at the bottom of the airstair. The Passenger who had fallen sustained serious injuries. The other Passenger reportedly sustained minor injuries.

The Piper PA-28-181 aircraft, touched down on Runway 24 at Milltownpass Airstrip in gusty conditions. During the landing roll, it departed the right-hand side of the runway and entered rough ground. The aircraft’s right wing struck a wooden post and the aircraft pivoted by approximately 180 degrees before it came to rest. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The Pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, was uninjured and exited the aircraft unaided. There was no fire.

SYNOPSIS

At approximately 15:45 hrs on 18 September 2022, the Pilot prepared the powered hang glider for flight from an agricultural field, located near Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare, and launched a short time later. The powered hang glider travelled less than 100 metres and impacted with the ground. There was no fire. The Pilot was fatally injured.

SYNOPSIS

During a parachute operations flight conducted from Clonbullogue Airfield (EICL), Co. Offaly, the aircraft, with one Pilot and four Skydivers on board, experienced uncharacteristic engine vibrations and a reduction in power. It was unable to continue its climb and the Pilot elected to return to the airfield. During the return, the engine power reduced further and a short time later the engine failed completely. The Pilot conducted an emergency landing on Runway 09. During the landing, the aircraft skidded sideways along the grass runway and came to a stop on a tarmac area beyond the end of the runway. The Pilot and four Skydivers were uninjured and evacuated the aircraft. The aircraft engine was subsequently found to have sustained substantial damage. There was no fire.

SYNOPSIS

During an exercise intended to teach the paramotor Student to kite and control a paramotor wing (canopy) above his head, the paramotor inadvertently became airborne. The Student who was being supervised by an Instructor, released the throttle instantly but did not use the ‘Kill switch/button’ to fully de-power the engine. On contacting the ground, the Student fell over on his left side and his left hand made contact with the spinning propeller, injuring two of his fingers. The Student attended a hospital emergency department for immediate treatment, and subsequently underwent surgery at a second hospital.

On approach to Runway 16 at Craughwell Airfield, the aircraft’s right wing dropped suddenly. Attempts to correct the aircraft attitude were unsuccessful, and the aircraft impacted the grass surface in a nose down attitude. The aircraft came to rest, inverted, and the two occupants, who were uninjured, released their harnesses and exited the aircraft unaided. There was no smoke or fire.

During a Private Pilot Licence skill test at Clonbullogue Airfield (EICL), Co. Offaly, the Savannah S aircraft, with a Student Pilot and a Flight Examiner on board, were conducting a simulated glide approach with the intention of a full-stop landing. During the landing, the aircraft bounced a number of times. The Examiner took control and initiated a go-around during which the aircraft briefly became airborne before the go-around was rejected. The aircraft landed and came to rest in a nose-down attitude at the side of the runway. The occupants, neither of whom was injured, exited the aircraft unaided. There was no fire.