Date:	Sunday 15 May 1977
Time:	09:57 UTC
Type:	de Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth
Owner/operator:	Trustees of the Stapleford Tiger Group
Registration:	G-ANDE
MSN:	85957
Year of manufacture:	1943
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	5
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Location:	Biggin Hill Airport, Biggin Hill, Westerham, Bromley, Kent -   United Kingdom
Phase:	Approach
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Stapleford Tawney, Abridge, Romford, Essex (EGSG)
Destination airport:	Biggin Hill Airport, Biggin Hill, Bromley, Kent (BQH/EGKB)
Investigating agency:	AIB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
The Biggin Hill Air Fair took place over the weekend of 14/15 May 1977. On the latter day Bell Jet Ranger helicopter G-AVSN, operated by Ferranti Helicopters, took off on a pleasure flight with a pilot and four passengers on board. As it climbed away, its departure path crossed with that of a non-radio equipped Tiger Moth, G-ANDE, (although it was flying in formation with a radio equipped aircraft) that was approaching to land on the newly cut grass landing strip parallel to the paved runway. At an altitude of between 70 and 100 feet the rotor blades of the Jet Ranger made contact with the undercarriage of the Tiger Moth. The blades of the Jet Ranger and the undercarriage of the Tiger Moth both detached as a result of their collision. The Jet Ranger fell to earth, nose first, landing on top of a Cessna 150. The Tiger Moth made a belly landing on the grass strip. All aboaad the Jet Ranger were killed and it was destroyed. The pilot and passenger of the Tiger Moth and the pilot of the Cessna were uninjured, both aeroplanes being severely damaged. The accident was investigated by the AIB, which subsequently produced a report. Blame for the mid-air collision was attributed, in parts, to the pilots of the Tiger Moth and the Jet Ranger as well at the ATC and the Air Fair organisers. It was found that:

a) the pilot of the Tiger Moth was inadequately briefed, failed to give advance notification of his intention to use the grass strip (rather than the paved runway) and failed to keep an adequate look-out on his approach to land (although he had right of way over the Jet Ranger)
b) the pilot of the Jet Ranger failed to ensure that his lift-off path (over which he didn't have right of way) was clear of other aircraft
c) the operating area allocated to the Jet Ranger was inappropriate in that it was a distraction to pilots of aircraft landing and too close to the public enclosure
d) the ATC should have warned the helicopter pilot when it was apparent that the Tiger Moth intended to land on the nearer grass strip
e) the Air Fair organisers should have made clearer their position regarding acceptance of non-radio arrivals and the use of the grass strip".


Aircraft history
de Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth MSN 85957; Taken on charge by the RAF as EM726 at GPEU (Glider Pilots Exercise Unit), RAF Netheravon, Wiltshire 24.2.43. Crashed 18.11.43 (presumed at Netheravon); to Lundy & Atlantic Coast for repairs 24.11.43. Upon completion of repairs, to 21 EFTS, RAF Booker, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire 31.12.43. Crashed 17.2.44 (presumed at RAF Booker); to Lundy & Atlantic Coast for repairs 3.3.44;#. To 20 MU RAF Aston Down, Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire 25.3.44. To 7 EFTS, RAF Desford. Leicestershire 29.11.44. To 7 RFS RAF Desford. Leicestershire 26.6.47 coded “RCP-C”. To 9 MU RAF Cosford, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire 14.11.51 for long-term stroage pending disposal.

Struck off charge when sold 28.9.53 to Association of British Aero Clubs. UK civil registered as G-ANDE (C of R R4121/1) 23.9.53 to Airways Aero Associations Ltd, Denham, Buckinghamshire (later - notified with effect from 6.7.56 - Croydon Airport, Croydon, Surrey). C of A issued 2.11.53 following overhaul by Nightscale Aircraft Services, Denham, Buckinghamshire. Registration cancelled 5.3.57 and re-registered (C of R R4121/2) 12.3.57 to John Crewdson, Horley, Surrey; operated by Overseas Aviation, Gatwick Airport, Horely, Surrey. Regsitration cancelled 20.3.57 and re-registered (C of R R4121/3) 21.3.57 to Overseas Aviation Ltd, Jersey (aircraft based at Gatwick Airport, Horely, Surrey); operated by NV Skylight at Hilversum in Holland - notified as such 4.8.60. Returned to Shoreham Airport, Shoreham, Sussex on expiry of C of A 11.5.60; aircraft later (late 1960 or early 1961) dismantled and stored.

Registration cancelled 7.3.62 and re-registered (C of R R4121/4) 18.6.62 to R F Saywell Ltd, Gatwick Airport. Horely, Surrey. To Gatwick by road for overhaul 1.4.63 and C of A renewed 15.5.64. Registration cancelled 4.9.64 and re-registered (C of R R4121/5) 28.9.64 to Hillman & Pagence Ltd, Horley, Surrey (aircraft based at Slinfold, Horsham, West Sussex). Sold 26.11.64 [but not notified until 20.6.66]; aircraft reported to be at Rearsby in January 1965], then at Leicester East in February 1966]. Re-registered (C of R R4212/6) on 23.6.66 to Frederick Roy Eaton (Ron) Hayter, Southampton, Hampshire (aircraft based at Christchurch, Dorset).

Regsitration cancelled 11.10.67 and re-registered (C of R R4212/7) on 16.10.67 to Robert William Gordon Woollaston, Gidea Park, Romford, Essex (aircraft based at Stapleford Tawney, Abridge, Essex). Regsitration cancelled 1.10.68 and re-registered (C of R R4121/8) on 7.10.68 to Ronald Sanders, trustees of the assets of the Stapleford Tiger Group, Stapleford Tawney, Abridge, Essex. Overturned and damaged in forced landing near Bulphan, Essex 4.7.73 after propeller detached; repaired and returned to service. Damaged in heavy landing at Old Warden, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire 13.9.75; repaired and returned to service. Damaged when overturned on take-off at Stapleford Tawney, Abridge, Essex 17.1.76; repaired and returned to service.

Badly damaged when struck by Bell 206B G-AVSN taking off at Biggin Hill 15.5.77 and undercarriage destroyed. According to the folowing excerpt from the official AAIB Report into the accident:


Rebuilt [by May 1978] using fuselage of Tiger Moth G-ANZR [MSN 82997, ex-D-EGER, G-ANZR and ex-RAF R5115]; painted in quasi-RAF colours, coded ‘R’. Hit straw bales and overturned on landing at Stapleford Tawney, Abridge, Essex 19.9.78; repaired and returned to service. Fitted with Gipsy Major #80524 in 1979. Damaged following collision with ground marker on landing at Stapleford, Essex 5.7.81; repaired by 7.82 – now wearing code ‘105’.

Damaged when collided with Cessna F152 G-BHWS on take-off at Stapleford, Abridge, Essex 22.7.84.

Registration cancelled 11.9.84 and re-registered 14.1.85 (C of R G-ANDE/R9) to Ben Charles Cooper, trading as The Newbury Aeroplane Co, Denford Manor, Hungerford, Berkshire. Registration cancelled 15.4.86 and re-registered (C of R G-ANDE/R10) 15.4.86 (same day) to Andrew John Borsberry, Percy Benjamin Borsberry & Peter James Borsberry, Reading, Berkshire; rebuilt (active by August 1990). Registration cancelled 6.6.90 and re-registered (C of R G-ANDE/R11) on 6.6.90 to The Vintage Aeroplane Co Ltd, East Molesey, Surrey (aircraft based at Redhill, Surrey).

Damaged when ran away and overturned on start-up Shoreham 1.12.90. To Chilbolton for rebuild [1991]; repaired [by 1992] and returned to Redhill, Surrey. Registration cancelled 24.3.94 and re-registered (C of R G-ANDE/R12) 24.3.94 to Chauffair Ltd, [Nick Probett], East Molesey, Surrey (aircraft remained based at Redhill). Regsitration cancelled 12.3.96 as "Addresse: Gone Away" and re-registered (C of R G-ANDE/R13) on 12.3.96 (same day) to Montrose Aviation Ltd, [Dennis Gliddon & Angus Graham], Duxford, Cambridgeshire; later returned to Redhill, Surrey [by 1998]; relocated to White Waltham with Avia Special [4.99]. Re-registered (C of R G-ANDE/R14) on 10.4.2002 to Anthony Julian West, Pavenham, Bedford. Overhauled by Fordaire Aviation, Sywell, Northamptonshire and reflown 2.10.2003; CofA renewed 3.10.2003; aircraft at based Sywell, Northamptonshire. Registration cancelled 19.10.2004 and re-registered G-YVFS 19.10.2004 (same day) to Yorkshire Vintage Flying Ltd, Sheffield City Airport, Tinsley, Park, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (later relocated to Sherburn-in-Elmet, North Yorkshire).

Registration G-ANDE restored 21.6.06 (C of R G-ANDE/R15) to Aviation Ventures Ltd (Delta Aviation), Sywell, Northamptonshire [aircraft based at Kidlington, Oxfordshire, where delivered 18.8.2006]. Forced landed with engine failure Homefield Farm, near Crowhurst, East Sussex 14.9.2007 en route from Andrewsfield to Redhill and damaged when struck hay bales. Re-registered (C of R G-ANDE/R16) on 12.11.2008 to Duncan Alexander Nisbet, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire (under repair at Sywell, Norrthamptonshire in May 2015). Re-registered (C of R G-ANDE/R17) on 20.5.14 to Keith Michael Perkins, Maidstone, Kent (probably stored at Pent Farm, Postling, Kent pending rebuild). Re-registered (C of R G-ANDE/R18) on 28.5.21 to Aero Legends Leasing Ltd (Keith Perkins), Maidstone, Kent. Currently registered, although believed still under repair at Pent Farm, Postling, Kent; to be painted in 1943-period markingsd as EM726/‘FY’.

1. Royal Air Force Aircraft EA100-EZ999 (James J Halley, Air Britain)
2. Reading Evening Post - Monday 16 May 1977
3. Daily Mirror - Monday 16 May 1977
4. Belfast Telegraph - Wednesday 18 May 1977
5, Birmingham Daily Post - Thursday 21 July 1977
6. Hamburger Abendblatt 16 May 1977, p28
7. AAIB: https://www.gov.uk/aaib-reports/2-1978-agusta-bell-206b-g-avsn-and-dh82a-tiger-moth-g-ande-15-may-1977
8. https://cwsprduksumbraco.blob.core.windows.net/g-info/HistoricalLedger/G-ANDE-1.pdf
9. https://cwsprduksumbraco.blob.core.windows.net/g-info/HistoricalLedger/G-ANDE-2.pdf
10. https://cwsprduksumbraco.blob.core.windows.net/g-info/HistoricalLedger/G-ANDE-3.pdf
11. http://www.airhistory.org.uk/dh/p859.html
12. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Biggin_Hill_Airport#Accidents
13. https://sussexhistoryforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=17283.0
14. G-ANDE at Duxford in 1977: https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1411945
15. https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/registration/G-ANDE
16. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Biggin_Hill_Airport

Other occurrences involving this aircraft

14 September 2007

G-ANDE

Aviation Ventures Ltd.

0

Homefield Farm Airstrip, Crowhurst, 5nm E of Redhill, Surrey

sub

Tiger Moth G-ANDE at Manchester-Barton (EGCB), United Kingdom 27.6.2004:

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
26-Aug-2008 13:22	JINX	Added
18-Jul-2015 21:56	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative]
23-Nov-2020 17:18	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Operator, Source, Narrative, Accident report]
24-Dec-2021 09:43	harro	Updated [Accident report]
08-Jan-2022 17:56	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative, Category]
08-Jan-2022 19:53	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Embed code]
14-Nov-2022 12:38	harro	Updated [Embed code, Narrative]