AAIU Reports

SYNOPSIS

As the undercarriage was selected down on approach to Runway (RWY) 17 at Cork Airport, the flight crew heard a loud bang from the landing gear.  On arrival at the stand, an inspection was initiated, during which it was discovered that the LH main landing gear trunnion pin had sheared.

SYNOPSIS

The helicopter, with two persons on board, had just taken off from a private helicopter pad at the owner’s premises at Glenbeigh. At 600 ft the pilot heard noises from his rear, witnessed a drop in engine RPM and decided to autorotate for an immediate landing on the beach. On touchdown, one of the helicopter’s left skids collapsed and one of the main rotors struck the sand. The tail rotor assembly separated from the helicopter and the tail boom structure tore from  the fuselage. The occupants exited the helicopter unaided.

SYNOPSIS

The instructor was conducting a revision exercise with the student/owner of the helicopter in preparation for a pending Licensing Standards Test (LST).  During a downwind turn and flare Quick Stop manoeuvre, the main rotor blades struck the ground and the helicopter cart-wheeled for approximately 30 metres before coming to rest in an upright position.  Both pilot’s evacuated the wreckage unaided with only minor bruising being sustained by the Instructor.  There was no fire.  The Report makes one safety recommendation.

SYNOPSIS

The newspaper reports said that the privately-owned helicopter was flying from Carrickfin Airport to Arranmore Island, off the Donegal coast on the afternoon of Wednesday 13 August 2003, when it struck high tension cables beside the holiday village of Fallagowan. The Pilot managed to land safely but was reported to have taken off again.

SYNOPSIS

The helicopter was engaged in aerial filming of the Megalithic Passage Tomb at Newgrange, Co. Meath.  During its fourth orbit of the mound, the helicopter was seen to yaw suddenly to the right and spiral out of control.  Appropriate corrective action by the Pilot i.e., of opposite left pedal, reduction of collective and pitching the nose down to increase airspeed, proved ineffective as the helicopter continued yawing right in a spiral descent.  The helicopter impacted heavily into a field immediately east of the mound, but remained upright.  The three persons on board suffered various sudden impact injuries and were transferred to hospital by the emergency services a short time later. There was no fire.