EI-DHH, a Boeing 737-8AS aircraft, was on a scheduled passenger flight from Liverpool Airport, in the United Kingdom (EGGP), to Dublin Airport, in Ireland (EIDW). Following an uneventful flight, the aircraft touched down on Runway (RWY) 28 Left (L) at EIDW, in crosswind conditions, with a crab angle of approximately three degrees to the left, relative to the runway magnetic heading of 277 degrees. The aircraft tracked towards the left edge of the runway before turning back through the runway centreline and eventually coming to a stop at a runway exit on the right-hand side of the runway. During the ground roll, the aircraft nosewheels were severely damaged with one wheel and tyre departing the aircraft completely, and the other wheel being ground down to its axle, while its tyre also suffered significant abrasion and loss of material. There was damage to the airframe due to debris. There were no injuries and there was no fire. The passengers and crew disembarked the aircraft through the left rear (L2) door using mobile stairs and were taken to the terminal buildings by bus. The Investigation determined that the probable cause of the occurrence was the use of the tiller to steer the nosewheel assembly at a speed higher than that prescribed by the Aircraft Manufacturer.

During an urban delivery flight, a propeller blade separated from the Unmanned Aircraft (UA). This caused severe vibrations and the subsequent failure of an electric motor which in turn triggered the onboard Flight Termination System and emergency parachute deployment. The UA impacted the ground, resulting in minor damage to the UA. The propeller blade that had separated struck an individual on the ground causing a minor injury. The Investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was a fatigue fracture of a bolt securing the propeller blade, which caused the blade to separate from the UA.

The twin-engine PA34-220T aircraft was enroute from Bournemouth Airport (EGHH), in the United Kingdom to Weston Airport (EIWT), near Dublin, Ireland. While over the Irish Sea at an altitude of approximately 1,000 feet and approximately three nautical miles east of the County Wicklow coast, the Pilot reported to Dublin Air Traffic Area Control Centre (ACC) that the aircraft had a ‘rough running engine’ and requested an expedited arrival into EIWT. Two minutes later, the Pilot transmitted a MAYDAY call (state of emergency) to Dublin ACC, advising that the aircraft was now operating on one engine. He was offered potential diversionary airfields but elected to continue to EIWT, where a single engine approach to Runway (RWY) 25 was conducted. The aircraft landed on RWY 25 and taxied to the apron, where the Pilot and the three passengers who were on board exited normally. No injuries were reported to the Investigation. There was no fire.
When the AAIU inspected the aircraft following the occurrence, it was observed that the No. 3 cylinder had separated from the crankcase of the right-hand engine, and that there was associated damage to the crankcase and ancillary components. The AAIU subsequently determined that the probable cause of the separation was the fatigue failure of seven of the eight cylinder retention studs/throughbolts.

Shortly after take-off from Runway 25 at Weston Airport (EIWT), the Flight Crew of a TECNAM P2006T aircraft, consisting of an Instructor and a Student, was advised by the Duty Air Traffic Controller that the aircraft’s towbar was still attached to the nose landing gear. This was acknowledged by the Instructor who elected to return for an immediate landing. The aircraft landed with the towbar still attached which caused minor damage to the fuselage. Neither occupant was injured. There was no fire.

Approximately three minutes after take-off from Dublin Airport (EIDW), Ireland, on a scheduled passenger flight to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (EHAM), The Netherlands, the First Officer, who was the Pilot Flying, became incapacitated. The aircraft Commander took over all flying duties and requested assistance for the First Officer from the Cabin Attendants. He also transmitted a MAYDAY (state of emergency) to Dublin Air Traffic Control and requested clearance for the aircraft to return to EIDW, where a normal landing was performed. Medical assistance was provided to the First Officer on arrival. All passengers disembarked the aircraft normally. No injuries were reported to the Investigation.

The Robinson R44 Raven II Helicopter departed from a private site at Ballygarrett, Co. Wexford at approximately 14:32 hrs on 11 December 2022 and flew to another private site at Tagoat, also in Co. Wexford. The Helicopter departed Tagoat at approximately 14:58 hrs for a flight to Kilrush Airfield (EIKH) and followed a north-westerly track towards EIKH. When the Helicopter was approximately 0.7 nautical miles (NM) to the south-west of EIKH and at an altitude of approximately 1,800 feet (ft), it turned right (north-east). It continued past EIKH and remained on a north-easterly track for a further 8.3 NM approximately, before turning back towards the south-west. Then, for a number of minutes, the Helicopter flew back-and-forth in the Kennycourt area, which is approximately 7 NM north-east of EIKH, before impacting with terrain near Kennycourt at approximately 15:45 hrs. The Helicopter was destroyed due to the impact and a post-crash fire. The Pilot, who was the sole occupant, was fatally injured.

The Investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was a loss of control due to spatial disorientation following a loss of external visual references during an attempted or aborted descent in sub-optimal visibility conditions. The contributory causes were determined to be plan continuation bias when the flight was continued in meteorological conditions in which visual contact with the surface was deteriorating, and possible increasing pressure to land, or get to EIKH, due to a decreasing fuel quantity.

One Safety Recommendation is made as a result of this Safety Investigation.

Please see the below Preliminary Report.

NOTE: This Preliminary Report contains information, as known at this time, and does not contain analysis or conclusions. This information is therefore subject to change and may subsequently be found to contain errors; any errors in this Report will be corrected in the Final Report.

Following take-off from Runway 19 at Limetree Airfield, when the Raj Hamsa X Air aircraft was at 50 to 60 ft above the terrain of a hill on the take-off path, the engine ‘coughed’ several times and the aircraft lost height. An emergency landing was carried out into an agricultural field which resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft. The passenger was injured. There was no fire. The engine power interruption was subsequently determined to be due to a cold seizure in the engine’s front cylinder and a loss of clearance in the rear cylinder.

During the cruise phase of a scheduled passenger flight between Newark and Zurich, the right engine of the Boeing 767-322ER aircraft surged several times. Due to abnormal indications on several engine instruments, the Flight Crew believed that the engine had been severely damaged. They completed the ‘Severe Damage’ checklist and shut down the engine. The Flight Crew made a MAYDAY transmission and diverted to the nearest suitable airport which was Shannon (EINN). The aircraft landed safely and was escorted to a parking stand by the Shannon Airport Fire and Rescue Services. The passengers and crew disembarked normally, and no injuries were reported to the Investigation. There was no fire.

During take-off from Runway 18 at Birr Airfield (EIBR), the Instructor who occupied the right-hand seat, noticed that the aircraft was not accelerating as expected and that the engine sounded quieter than usual. As the aircraft proceeded down the runway, the Instructor observed that the engine was not developing full power and he instructed the Pilot, who occupied the left-hand seat, to abandon the take-off.

The Pilot closed the throttle and both crew members applied the brakes. The aircraft over-ran the end of the runway and impacted with a boundary hedge, sustaining minor damage. No injuries were reported. There was no fire.