AAIU Reports

 

When landing in a sloping agricultural field near Castleblaney Co. Monaghan, following a flight from a private airstrip in Co. Galway, the tail-wheel aircraft touched down hard and bounced. The Pilot applied engine power “to avoid a stall” and the aircraft touched down again approximately 45 metres (m) further on. This was followed by a series of bounces and a loss of directional control, resulting in the right hand wing tip making contact with the ground. The aircraft came to rest in a nose-down position. The Pilot, who was the sole occupant, was uninjured.

 

 

During preparations for departure from Dublin Airport (EIDW) on a scheduled flight to Rennes (Saint Jacques) Airport, France (LFRN), the passenger baggage was placed in the aft aircraft baggage hold instead of the forward baggage hold. The Load Instruction Report (LIR) and the prepared loadsheet both indicated that the baggage had been loaded in the forward hold. The aircraft departed with the Centre of Gravity outside approved loading limits. The aircraft subsequently landed at its destination where the loading error was discovered.

 

 

A Cessna 172, EI-CUJ, with a solo Student Pilot on board, was given clearance by the Air Movements Controller (AMC) to backtrack and line up on Runway (RWY) 25 at Cork Airport. While EI-CUJ was taxiing, a second Cessna 172, G-GFSA, with a Flight Instructor and Student on board, was given take-off clearance on RWY 35. As G-GFSA was climbing away, the AMC saw that EI-CUJ had become airborne from RWY 25 without clearance.

 

 

 

At 17.55 hrs on the 26 May 2017, the ATR 72 aircraft landed at Cork Airport (EICK) following a scheduled flight from Manchester (EGCC). During disembarkation a passenger fell from the top of the passenger door stairs to the ground. The passenger sustained head, knee and shoulder injuries.

 

 

 

The Pilot reported that while in the cruise at a height of approximately 1,500 ft, the aircraft suffered a sudden loss of power. A successful forced landing was carried out into a grass field. No injuries were reported and there was no damage. The engine power loss was subsequently found to have been caused by fuel starvation.

 

 

The aircraft landed on Runway (RWY) 27 at Navan Airfield (EIHH). It overran the grass runway and had a low speed impact with a boundary fence. The aircraft came to a stop and the Pilot and passenger exited the aircraft unaided. There were no injuries and there was no fire.

 

 

 

EI-ROB departed Weston Airport (EIWT) at 11.10 hrs on 5 November 2016 on a general aviation flight to Kerry Airport (EIKY). Following an uneventful en route flight, the aircraft was cleared to approach Runway (RWY) 08 at EIKY. The Pilot reported that on touch down a gust of wind caught the aircraft, causing it to veer towards the edge of the runway.

 

The aircraft entered the soft grass at the side of the runway; the nose-gear dug into the wet ground and the aircraft pitched up onto its nose before coming to rest. The Pilot exited the aircraft unaided. There was no fire.

 

 

 

The Pilot was undertaking a short local flight with the intention of returning to Waterford Airport (EIWF) for circuit work. Approximately 18 minutes after take-off, at an altitude of 2,000 ft, the Pilot declared an emergency and informed Waterford ATC that his engine had stopped. He gave his approximate position as near Dungarvan and told ATC that he had selected a field for a landing. Waterford ATC acknowledged the MAYDAY call, gave the wind information (at EIWF) and advised the Pilot to concentrate on landing.

 

Following a flight path in a north-easterly direction, the aircraft impacted trees at a height of 4.4 metres (m). The Waterford-based Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) helicopter was airborne on a training detail at the time. The helicopter crew heard the MAYDAY call and arrived at the scene within minutes under the self-tasked callsign ‘Rescue 117’. The Pilot of EI-CPI was fatally injured in the accident. There was no fire.

 

 

 

The Pilot was conducting a flight in the vicinity of Abbeyshrule Airfield (EIAB) in Co. Longford. This was his second flight in the Laser Z200 single-seat, aerobatic aircraft which had been delivered to him at EIAB seven days prior to the accident. The flight consisted of circuits of the airfield incorporating a number of landings, take-offs, and aerobatic manoeuvres. While flying on the downwind segment of the final circuit, the Pilot initiated a sequence of aerobatic rolling manoeuvres at a circuit height of approximately 800 ft. Eyewitnesses observed the aircraft entering a steep nose-down flight path. During the attempted recovery, the aircraft appeared to stall and enter the initial stage of a spin. It impacted with terrain in an agricultural field adjacent to the runway, fatally injuring the Pilot. The aircraft was destroyed and there was no fire.