ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 17936
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| Date: | Friday 5 May 1995 |
| Time: | 20:15 |
| Type: |  Aérospatiale AS 350B Ecureuil |
| Owner/operator: | PLM Helicopters |
| Registration: | G-PLMA |
| MSN: | 1049 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1979 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Loch Glashen, Near Lochgilphead, Argyll, Scotland -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | External load operation |
| Departure airport: | Loch Glashen, Argyll & Bute |
| Portavadie, Argyll & Bute | |
| Investigating agency: | AAIB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Written off 5.5.95 when crashed into Loch Glashen, Near Lochgilphead, Argyll, Scotland. Aircraft had been carrying out underslung load operations involving transfer of fish. First flight commenced at 05:35 and relief pilot took over at approx midday. At 16:45 pilot resumed, and after seventh lift, the empty bucket was returned to the pick up site, where the pilot informed a lorry driver he would return for next load in 5 minutes. Aircraft then departed with unloaded sling and hook still attached.
Eyewitnesses state aircraft turned right and flew up the Loch. Aircraft was reportedly flying lower than previously. During the last moments, it appeared to be pitching up and down and the engine note changed prior to impact. Witnesses state that they could not see anything hanging below aircraft and one door appeared open.
Examination of the wreckage found aircraft had impacted rocks on the Loch edge while rolling right, nose down and yawing left with high rate of descent and little forward speed. Tail Rotor Gear Box had separated and the aircraft was severely damaged. Severe fretting damage was found where main mounts locating the Tail Rotor Gear Box onto tail boom had fractured, consistent with period of operation with gross Tail Rotor imbalance.
Evidence of Tail Rotor Box striking both fins, forcibly in case of the lower fin, consistent with contact after Tail Rotor Gear Box had failed. The sling and missing portion of Tail Rotor Box are believed to have fallen into the Loch. Pilots seat had detached from floor after GRP mould had fractured and harness stitching of Left Hand strap failed at floor attachment. Pilot remained in his seat which separated from aircraft and he was retained by electrical lead of headset worn under helmet which remained plugged into socket located in centre floor console.
Damage sustained to airframe: Per the AAIB report "aircraft destroyed". As a result, the registration G-PLMA was cancelled by the CAA as aircraft "destroyed" on 14.9.95
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
1. AAIB: https://assets.digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk/media/5422f47540f0b61342000491/Aerospatiale_AS350B_Ecureuil__G-PLMA_07-95.pdf
2. CAA: https://siteapps.caa.co.uk/g-info/rk=PLM
3. [LINK NOT WORKING ANYMORE:http://coptercrazy.brinkster.net/search/se350show.asp?start=1&count=50]
4. http://flightsafety.org/hs/hs_jul_aug97.pdf
5. http://www.griffin-helicopters.co.uk/accidentdetails.aspx?accidentkey=100
Media:
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 17-May-2008 11:10 | ASN archive | Added |
| 26-Feb-2010 10:37 | harro | Updated [Time, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Location, Country, Phase, Nature, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 03-Jul-2014 21:22 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 03-Jul-2014 21:32 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Narrative] |
| 05-Jun-2016 18:36 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
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