AAIU Reports

 

During a landing at a private airstrip at Dowth Hall, the aircraft touched down hard and bounced, before touching down again. The nose landing gear was damaged during the landing, which caused the aircraft to veer to the left, and depart the side of the runway. The two occupants were uninjured and exited the aircraft normally. There was no fire.

 

 

The Comco Ikarus C42B aircraft, with the Pilot and one passenger on board, was en route from Sligo Airport (EISG) to Belmullet Aerodrome, Co. Mayo (EIBT). When the aircraft was overhead Bartragh Island, Co. Mayo, at an altitude estimated by the Pilot to be six to seven hundred feet, the engine cut out. The Pilot made one attempt to restart the engine without success, before carrying out a forced landing on a sandy beach on the south-western side of the island. The nose landing gear and right main landing gear collapsed during the landing and detached before the aircraft came to rest. The Pilot and passenger were uninjured and exited the aircraft unaided. There was no fire.

 

 

 

The BRM Land Africa (Citius) aircraft departed Ballyheelan Airfield, Co Cavan for a local flight on 21 April 2021. The Pilot, who was the sole occupant, estimated the wind speed to be 25 miles per hour (mph) at departure. The Pilot stated that one hour later, when returning to land, the wind speed had increased and was gusting to an estimated 35 mph. He said that as the aircraft crossed the runway threshold, he reduced engine power and just before touchdown the aircraft appeared to sink and stall, resulting in a hard landing on the runway. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to its undercarriage. The Pilot was uninjured. There was no fire

 

The Pilot had conducted a general handling and aerobatics flight in the aircraft, a Stolp Starduster TOO SA-300 biplane, followed by a return to land on the westerly grass runway at Ballyboy Airfield, Co. Meath. During the landing roll, the left main undercarriage leg gradually collapsed, causing the aircraft to veer to the left. During the subsequent runway excursion, the aircraft impacted a perimeter fence adjacent to the runway and came to rest facing in a south-easterly direction. The Pilot and Passenger were both uninjured. There was no fire.

 

 

While flying in the vicinity of Dunlavin, Co Wicklow in a Schleicher ASW 19 B single seat glider, the Pilot was unable to locate thermal activity to obtain sufficient lift to continue the flight and thus completed an ‘out-landing’. The Pilot reported that during the landing roll, the glider impacted a hedgerow surrounding the landing field and sustained substantial damage. The Pilot was uninjured.

 

 

 

 

 

Having completed two circuits to Runway 28 at Trim Airfield Co. Meath, the aircraft was on the ground roll phase prior to a planned third circuit. At approximately 35 – 40 miles per hour (mph), power was applied to accelerate the aircraft. The aircraft swung to the left, departed the side of the runway and continued through a barbed wire fence before coming to rest in an adjacent field. The aircraft was destroyed. The two occupants exited the aircraft unaided. There was no fire.

 

 

 

 

During the take-off roll on Runway (RWY) 24 at Shannon Airport (EINN), Ireland, the Commander heard an unusual noise and elected to reject the take-off. Following the rejected take-off, the aircraft was taxied to a holding area for brake cooling. It was subsequently decided to return to the parking stand. During the taxi back to stand, Shannon ATC observed smoke and then a fire in the area of the left main landing gear. Airport Fire and Rescue Service (AFRS) vehicles were deployed and the fire was extinguished. The passengers and crew evacuated the aircraft via emergency slides. One passenger sustained a minor injury during the evacuation.

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 contain errors; any errors in this Report will be corrected in the Final Report.

 

 

A Sikorsky S-92A helicopter, registration EI-ICR (call sign Rescue 116), which was being operated by a private operator on behalf of the Irish Coast Guard (IRCG), was en route from Dublin, on Ireland’s east coast, to Blacksod, Co. Mayo, on Ireland’s west coast. The Flight Crew’s intention was to refuel at Blacksod before proceeding, as tasked, to provide Top Cover for another of the Operator’s helicopters, which had been tasked to airlift a casualty from a fishing vessel, situated approximately 140 nautical miles off the west coast of Ireland. At 00.46 hrs, on 14 March 2017, while positioning for an approach to Blacksod from the west, the Helicopter, which was flying at 200 feet above the sea, collided with terrain at the western end of Black Rock, departed from controlled flight, and impacted with the sea. 

 

During the immediate search and rescue response, the Commander was found in the sea to the south-east of Black Rock and was later pronounced dead. Subsequently, the main wreckage of the Helicopter was found close to the south-eastern tip of Black Rock, on the seabed at a depth of approximately 40 metres. The deceased Co-pilot was located within the cockpit section of the wreckage and was recovered by naval service divers. Extensive surface and underwater searches were conducted; however, the two Rear Crew members were not located and remain lost at sea.

 

Forty two Safety Recommendations are made as a result of this Investigation.