AAIU Reports
INCID: Sikorsky S-61N, EI-CXS, West of Shannon Airport, 6 Feb 2005: Report No 2005-005
Incid: Piper PA 28, EI-BSO, Ramsgrange Wexford, 24 Jan 2004: Report No 2005-004
Accident: Enstrom 280FX Shark, G-OPDM, Glenbeigh Co Kerry, 07 Jun 2003: Report No 2005-003
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.
Accident: Schweizer 269, EI-FUN, Weston Aerodrome, 21 Feb 2004, Report No 2005-002
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.
Accident: Robinson R44 ASTRO, G-HALE, Arranmore Island Donegal, 13 Aug 2003: Report No 2005-001
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.
Incident: BAe 146-300, EI-DEX, En-route, Dublin-CDG, 30 Sep 2004: Report No. 2004-022
Accident: Bell 206B JetRanger-II, G-AYMW, Newgrange Co Meath, 5 April 2004: Report No 2004-021
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.
Accident: Piper PA 18 -150, EI-BIK, Gowran Grange, Co. Kildare, 15 Aug 2003: Report No 2004-020
Accident: Bell 206B, EI-BHI, Weston Airport Kildare, 31 Mar 2003: Report No 2004-019
SYNOPSIS
Following a normal landing from a simulated tail rotor control failure, the rear portion of the right skid of the helicopter severed. The Report makes two Safety Recommendations to the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA).
Incident: Boeing B737-2T5 ADV, EI-CKS, Dublin, 3 Feb 2003: Report No 2004-018
SYNOPSIS
Immediately after take-off from Dublin, on a scheduled flight to Bristol, a bang was heard in the cabin area, which was followed by a blast of hot air, and what appeared to be smoke, entering into the cabin in the area of Row 10. The Cabin Staff Supervisor (CSS) alerted the Flight Crew. The Captain declared an emergency and made an immediate return to Dublin Airport. After landing safely, he ordered an emergency evacuation of the aircraft. Inspection of the aircraft found that a duct joint in the pressurisation system had failed. This allowed heated engine air to enter the cabin. The Investigation has made a total of four Safety Recommendations.