ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 173795
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Friday 13 February 2015 |
| Time: | 11:13 LT |
| Type: |  Robinson R22 Beta II |
| Owner/operator: | Thurston Helicopters Ltd |
| Registration: | G-THLA |
| MSN: | 3462 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2003 |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O-360-J2A |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Snargate Lane near Brenzett, Romney Marsh, Kent -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Training |
| Departure airport: | Lashenden (Headcorn) Airfield (EGKH) |
| Lashenden (Headcorn) Airfield (EGKH) | |
| Investigating agency: | AAIB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
A Robinson 22 helicopter crashed in the Romney Marsh, Snargate area, near Brookland, this morning (Friday February 13th).
Two men were able to walk away from the aircraft which had rolled onto its side after carrying out an emergency landing. They were treated at the scene for minor injuries, but did not need to go to hospital.
UPDATE: The official AAIB report into the accident states...
"The purpose of the flight was to focus on auto rotation techniques in preparation for the student’s General Flying Test. The instructor stated that the wind over the Romney Marsh area was from 150/160 degrees at 25-30 knots, a cloud base in excess of 2,000 feet and hazy visibility. The sortie commenced with two gentle auto rotations, which were conducted satisfactorily, before moving onto advanced exercises that included constant attitude, standard (i.e. 60 knot) range and extended range auto rotations. The instructor then demonstrated a 360° autorotation, which is used when the desired landing area is directly below the helicopter. During the demonstration, the instructor explained how the 30 knot headwind would tend to push the helicopter back, and that during the turn, there would be a reduction in airspeed and rotor rpm. The instructor completed the manoeuvre with a flared recovery at around 55 knots.
The student initiated her auto rotation in the correct position for the chosen landing area (which was different from that used for the instructor’s demonstration) and then entered a left turn, losing airspeed as predicted. At some point during the turn, the ‘low rotor rpm’ warning horn sounded, indicating that rotor rpm was below 96%. The student adjusted thecollective pitch control downwards to bring the rpm indicating needle back into the green sector.
On lining up for the landing field the instructor noted that the airspeed was a little slow and the height was now around 250 feet. He ‘joined’ the engine and rotor rpm needles together by applying power and asked the student to go around. After 2-3 seconds he further assisted by applying considerably more power. However, the helicopter was now at around 150 feet, so he applied full power and pushed forward on the cyclic control in order to gain airspeed.
The machine continued to fall and the instructor attempted a flare at around 40 feet with the intention of conducting a landing at as low an airspeed as possible due to the ploughed surface of the field. Despite landing on the rear of the skids, the nose pitched down, causing the front of the skids to dig in. The main rotors cut into the ground and the helicopter rolled over onto its right side. The instructor turned off the fuel and electrics and, whilst doing so, noted that fuel was escaping from the cowling around the rotor head. The occupants helped each other out of the aircraft.
The instructor subsequently stated that he considered that the helicopter had experienced severe wind shear in the final stage of the auto rotation, causing a loss of lift that prevented a recovery/go-around."
Damage sustained to airframe: Per the above AAIB report the helicopter sustained "Substantial damage to rotor system and tail boom". The damage was presumably severe enough to render the airframe as "beyond economic repair", as the registration G-THLA was cancelled by the CAA on 12th March 2015 (just one month later) as "Destroyed"
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
1. https://www.kentlive.news/Pair-injured-helicopter-emergency-landing/story-26022648-detail/story.html
2. http://www.kentonline.co.uk/romney-marsh/news/helicopter-rolls-onto-side-after-31832/
3. https://twitter.com/Kent_999s/status/566246720972279808
4. https://www.facebook.com/449916508439938/photos/a.449932131771709.1073741826.449916508439938/724665797631673/?type=1
5. AAIB: https://assets.digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk/media/557939bf40f0b615b5000012/Robinson_R22_Beta_G-THLA_06-15.pdf
6. CAA: http://www.caa.co.uk/aircraft-registration/
7. http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/update/2015-02-13/ambulances-called-after-helicopter-crashes-in-kent/
Media:
SNARGATE update: Photos of the Robinson 22 helicopter that crashed at Snargate near Brenzett this morning. pic.twitter.com/MbLIHcobiz
— Kent 999s (@Kent_999s) February 13, 2015SNARGATE, Romney Marsh: A helicopter has reportedly crashed at Snargate. https://t.co/6d9LCPUG5d Pic @SECAmbHart pic.twitter.com/f4f2Z1M9dM
— Kent 999s (@Kent_999s) February 13, 2015Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 13-Feb-2015 15:51 | gerard57 | Added |
| 13-Feb-2015 17:09 | Geno | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Nature, Departure airport, Source] |
| 13-Feb-2015 17:11 | Geno | Updated [Operator] |
| 14-Feb-2015 08:07 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Registration] |
| 17-Feb-2015 17:45 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Location, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 11-Jun-2015 19:45 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Operator, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 11-Jun-2015 19:45 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Narrative] |
| 04-Oct-2015 01:23 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Location, Source, Narrative] |
| 22-Sep-2016 13:35 | Aerossurance | Updated [Time, Location, Narrative] |
| 17-Aug-2018 18:06 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Location] |
| 30-Aug-2018 00:13 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Location, Damage, Narrative] |
| 30-Aug-2018 00:16 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Source] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation