ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 174937
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| Date: | Sunday 16 March 1997 |
| Time: | 08:05 |
| Type: |  Bell 206B JetRanger |
| Owner/operator: | BTW Allen |
| Registration: | G-OBTW |
| MSN: | 779 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1972 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Gravesend, near Albury, Hertfordshire -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Piggots Farm, Albury, Hertfordshire |
| Spalding, Lincolnshire | |
| Investigating agency: | AAIB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Written off (damaged beyond repair) 16 March 1997 when crashed at Gravesend, near Albury, Hertfordshire, shortly after take off, killing the pilot and joint owner (the sole person on board). According to the following extracts from the official AAIB report into the accident:
"The helicopter was destroyed when it crashed shortly after take-off from Albury. The accident site was less than 4 km from the point of departure; however, after take-off, the helicopter had followed a very erratic course with three 360-degree circuits and other changes of direction giving a total track of about 15 km.
Just before the crash, the helicopter was seen to turn 'very sharply' to the left. At this point its engine was heard to stop, and it descended vertically into the ground. The accident happened in daylight (08:05hours Local) but in IMC. Wind, 260 degrees/13 knots, visibility 3,000 metres and cloud 200 feet, scattered and 300 feet overcast. Witnesses close to the accident site described the weather as low cloud with areas of mist, dense in places, particularly on the hills and close to woodland areas.
The helicopter was being used for a private flight back to the pilot's home near Spalding. The cause of the loss of power could not be determined, however, the AAIB noted that vigorous manoeuvring, which possibly occurred shortly before the crash, could have precipitated engine failure due to a temporary uncovering of the fuel pump inlets and/or
disruption of the engine's airflow. The pilot held neither an instrument nor an IMC rating and the helicopter was not cleared for flight in IMC"
The AAIB report confirms that Bell 206B was "destroyed"; as a result, the registration G-OBTW was cancelled by the CAA as "destroyed" on 28 July 1997.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
1. AAIB: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5422f2ed40f0b613420003df/dft_avsafety_pdf_500835.pdf
2. CAA: https://siteapps.caa.co.uk/g-info/rk=OBTW
3. https://flic.kr/p/nwNGtB
4. https://www.helis.com/database/cn/38734/
5. http://www.griffin-helicopters.co.uk/accidentdetails.aspx?accidentkey=3578
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 29-Mar-2015 19:53 | Dr. John Smith | Added |
| 29-Mar-2015 19:53 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Narrative] |
| 17-Jun-2016 21:43 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Time, Source, Narrative] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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