Date:	Friday 17 December 1948
Time:	day
Type:	Sikorsky R-4 Hoverfly I
Owner/operator:	AFEE (Armed Forces Experimental Establishment)
Registration:	KN864
MSN:
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	RAF Beaulieu, East Boldre, 2 miles west of Beaulieu, Hampshire -   United Kingdom
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Test
Departure airport:	RAF Beaulieu, East Boldre, Beaulieu, Hampshire
Destination airport:	RAF Beaulieu, East Boldre, Beaulieu, Hampshire

Narrative:
Sikorsky R-4 Hoverfly I KN864, AFEE (Armed Forces Experimental Establishment): Written off (damaged beyond repair) 17-12-48 in a 'hard' landing at RAF Beaulieu, East Boldre, 2 miles west of Beaulieu, Hampshire.

The pilot of Hoverfly KN864, Captain R I Walton, was test flying, which included development of appropriate techniques for 'engine off' landings in this type of helicopter. While landing at RAF Beaulieu in a tail-down attitude, the tail rotors struck the ground, the helicopter rolled over, and was badly damaged. The pilot escaped without injury.

1. Halley, James (1999). Broken Wings – Post-War Royal Air Force Accidents. Tunbridge Wells: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-290-4.
2. Final Landings: A Summary of RAF Aircraft and Combat Losses 1946 to 1949 by Colin Cummings p.456
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikorsky_R-4
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airborne_Forces_Experimental_Establishment#Beaulieu_(1945)
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Beaulieu#Postwar_military_use

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
08-Apr-2023 13:19	Dr. John Smith	Added