ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 70084
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| Date: | Sunday 15 November 2009 |
| Time: | 15:30 |
| Type: |  Robinson R22 Beta II |
| Owner/operator: | Corserve International Ltd. |
| Registration: | G-RIDL |
| MSN: | 3194 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2001 |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O-360-J2A |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Pinfold Farm, Adlington, near Macclesfield, Cheshire -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Private Helipad, Stockport, Cheshire |
| Private Helipad, Stockport, Cheshire | |
| Investigating agency: | AAIB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot, who was also the owner of G-RIDL, kept the helicopter outside at a private site located close to Manchester Airport and normally only used it for pleasure flights in the local area. On the afternoon of the accident he decided to undertake such a flight, intending to return after about an hour flying around the Macclesfield area.
The pilot was undertaking a local flight in his helicopter when witnesses heard an unusual noise and saw the helicopter descend. It crashed in a field, at Pinfold Farm in Adlington, near Macclesfield, east Cheshire, fatally injuring the pilot
Evidence suggests that the pilot may have been attempting a precautionary landing and that the tail of the helicopter contacted the ground, leading to a loss of control. Corrosion was found in the left magneto, which could have caused an increase in engine vibration and noise, and possibly led the pilot to attempt a precautionary landing.
According to the following extract from the official AAIB report into the accident:
"Shortly before the accident, G-RIDL was seen by witnesses, who described it flying at a height of between 500 and 1,000 feet above the ground, with no apparent signs of anything being wrong. The helicopter had been circling near the crash site for a few minutes when one witness heard a noise described as a “bang” or “clatter” and saw the helicopter rock from side to side.
He reported that the engine continued to sound as if it was running normally, but that the helicopter then slewed to one side so that its nose was pointing to the left of the direction of travel.
Other witnesses saw the helicopter as it descended but, due to the nature of the terrain and surrounding trees, no one saw it strike the ground. Witnesses reported hearing the engine running as the helicopter descended.
Other people close to the accident site, who had not seen the helicopter, were alerted to its presence by the noise it was making. One described it as “struggling as if it were under load”. There was then a heavy thud and the noise stopped, prompting two people to investigate. They found the helicopter lying on its side in a nearby field, with the pilot having sustained serious injuries.
They notified the emergency services who attended the scene but the pilot subsequently died from his injuries"
Nature of Damage sustained to airframe: Per the AAIB report "Aircraft destroyed". as a result, the registration G-RIDL was cancelled by the CAA as "Permanently withdrawn from use" on 25-5-2010
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
1. AAIB: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5423025340f0b61346000bf9/Robinson_R22_Beta__G-RIDL_12-10.pdf
2. CAA: https://siteapps.caa.co.uk/g-info/
3. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/manchester/8361523.stm
4. http://helihub.com/2009/11/15/15-nov-09-g-robinson-r22-adlington-uk-1f/
5. https://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/395969-chopper-down-macclesfield-cheshire.html
6. http://www.griffin-helicopters.co.uk/accidentdetails.aspx?accidentkey=50824
7. http://www.macclesfield-express.co.uk/news/s/1182670_man_killed_in_helicopter_crash_named
8. https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/man-killed-in-helicopter-crash-named-934779
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 16-Nov-2009 12:18 | RobertMB | Added |
| 16-Oct-2012 17:37 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Location, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 16-Nov-2016 13:22 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Time, Location, Source, Narrative] |
| 16-Nov-2016 13:27 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Narrative] |
| 16-Nov-2016 13:31 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Source] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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