ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 188237
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| Date: | Saturday 5 July 1997 |
| Time: | 11:20 |
| Type: |  Westland SA 341G Gazelle |
| Owner/operator: | The Auster Aircraft Company Ltd |
| Registration: | G-BCHM |
| MSN: | WA1168 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1974 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Springfield Farm, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | Taxi |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Springfield Farm, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire |
| Springfield Farm, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire | |
| Investigating agency: | AAIB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Built 1974: first UK registered as G-BCHM on 14-6-1974. Substantially damaged 5-7-1997 in a 'hard' landing (which distorted the fuselage) whilst hover-taxying at Springfield Farm, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. No injuries reported to the four persons on board (pilot and three passengers; two of the passengers were children). According to the following extract from the official AAIB report into the accident:
"The pilot intended to hover-taxi the helicopter from its usual parking area in a paddock, where it had been standing for three weeks, to a new concrete hard standing about 60 metres to the west. The pilot started the helicopter and, after carrying out the usual checks, lifted into the hover.
The initial lift-off was normal but at a height of about 3 feet, the helicopter yawed to the left. The pilot attempted to correct the yaw but without success. The helicopter completed two rotations to the left and climbed to about 9 feet, while rolling to the right. The pilot elected to land immediately and lowered the collective. The helicopter touched down hard but remained upright.
The accident happened in daylight (12:20 hours Local time) and in good weather with a light wind from the southwest. Temp. +24C. The AAIB believes that the accident was most likely the result of a sudden loss of yaw control which can happen to Gazelles in light wind conditions"
Damage sustained to airframe: Per the AAIB report "Fuselage beyond economic repair; engine and dynamic
components to be transferred to a donor fuselage". This is what happened, and the aircraft was rebuilt, and sold on to a new owner on 13-01-2000. After being sold on a further time on 3-4-2002, the registration G-BCHM was finally cancelled by the CAA on 25-11-2008 as "Transferred to another country or authority > SERBIA"
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
1. AAIB: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5423026fed915d1374000b27/dft_avsafety_pdf_500861.pdf
2. CAA: https://siteapps.caa.co.uk/g-info/rk=BCHM
3. http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/000945273.html
4. https://www.helis.com/database/cn/34746/
5. http://www.aviafora.com/forums/forum/helicopter-fora/gazelles/343-shrieking-gazelles/page8#post1077
6. http://www.griffin-helicopters.co.uk/accidentdetails.aspx?accidentkey=3572
7. https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulkelseyphotography/16427509161
8. https://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/419023-rotary-nostalgia-thread-44.html#post6752060
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 18-Jun-2016 22:01 | Dr.John Smith | Added |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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