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| Date: | Tuesday 9 August 2016 |
| Time: | 13:34 LT |
| Type: |  Bell 412 Griffin HT1 |
| Owner/operator: | 202(R) Sqn DHFS RAF |
| Registration: | ZJ241 |
| MSN: | 36164 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1997 |
| Engine model: | P&W Canada PT6T |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 5 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Yr Aran, Snowdonia -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Anglesey Airport (VLY/EGOV) |
| Anglesey Airport (VLY/EGOV) | |
| Investigating agency: | AAIB |
A Defence Helicopter Flying School (DHFS) B412 Griffin HT1 helicopter attempted a slope landing on Yr Aran ridge, immediately behind a strong updraft feature. It suffered a severe vibration event and progressive loss of power then caught fire after a failure of the MGB support case and forward driveshaft coupling. The Service Inquiry could not determine whether the vibration was due to a fatigue failure of the support case, or whether it was an overload failure following a severe vibration event for which no cause was determined.
There were 4 military personnel and 1 civilian in the aircraft plus 1 military on the mountain top. All safe & unharmed.
Yr Aran is a mountain peak on a ridge radiating south from Snowdon, Wales' highest mountain.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-37023986
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/snowdonia-helicopter-crash-fire-accident-raf-police-fire-casualties-latest-a7180856.html
https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/local-news/live-reports-helicopter-fire-snowdon-11725245
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-45213604
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/733515/Griffin_Final_Report_-_RT.pdf
Media:
https://t.co/5GS2xTkKvL pic.twitter.com/chczbCJjAD
— Llanberis MRT (@LlanberisMRT) August 9, 2016
#MountainRescue called out as helicopter bursts into flames following forced landing in #Snowdonia. All crew safe. https://t.co/t5PYaew377
— Mountain Rescue (@mountrescueuk) August 9, 2016
Emergency services at the scene of an incident involving a helicopter in Yr Aran area of #Snowdonia. Follow social media updates @NWPolice
— North Wales Police (@NWPolice) August 9, 2016
@BeckyBarnesB Hi Becky, yes of course. Don't know if this is a better one? It was taken from top of Cnicht just now. pic.twitter.com/eCxuGrYSMQ
— Philippa Napper (@Philippa_Napper) August 9, 2016
Our statement on the @RoyalAirForce helicopter incident in Snowdonia. pic.twitter.com/d2FT4FO9oY
— Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) August 9, 2016
We can confirm that a military helicopter made a precautionary landing on Yr Aran #Snowdonia. All 6 crew are safe.
— North Wales Police (@NWPolice) August 9, 2016
An RAF Chinook today bringing in the wreckage of the Griffin from last week #Snowdonia #Caernarfon @dailypostwales pic.twitter.com/xwkggevs00
— Gareth Jones (@gwjphantom) August 15, 2016
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 09-Aug-2016 13:52 | Aerossurance | Added |
| 09-Aug-2016 13:54 | Aerossurance | Updated [Source, Embed code, Narrative, ] |
| 09-Aug-2016 13:59 | Aerossurance | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Source, Narrative, ] |
| 09-Aug-2016 14:00 | Aerossurance | Updated [Aircraft type, ] |
| 09-Aug-2016 14:08 | Aerossurance | Updated [Time, Source, Narrative, ] |
| 09-Aug-2016 14:10 | Aerossurance | Updated [Embed code, Narrative, ] |
| 09-Aug-2016 14:21 | Aerossurance | Updated [Nature, Embed code, Narrative, ] |
| 09-Aug-2016 14:55 | Aerossurance | Updated [Departure airport, Embed code, Damage, Narrative, ] |
| 09-Aug-2016 15:20 | Aerossurance | Updated [Operator, Total occupants, Narrative, ] |
| 09-Aug-2016 17:48 | Aerossurance | Updated [Source, Embed code, Narrative, ] |
| 09-Aug-2016 18:29 | NearBye | Updated [Registration, Cn, Phase, Destination airport, Source, ] |
| 09-Aug-2016 18:40 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Source, ] |
| 09-Aug-2016 18:51 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Departure airport, Destination airport, ] |
| 09-Aug-2016 18:52 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Destination airport, ] |
| 09-Aug-2016 18:55 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Embed code, ] |
| 09-Aug-2016 20:57 | Aerossurance | Updated [Departure airport, Destination airport, Embed code, ] |
| 09-Aug-2016 21:02 | Aerossurance | Updated [Source, Embed code, ] |
| 11-Aug-2016 10:15 | AlFal88 | Updated [Embed code, ] |
| 15-Aug-2016 20:07 | Aerossurance | Updated [Embed code, ] |
| 17-Aug-2018 08:27 | Aerossurance | Updated [Time, Operator, Location, Phase, Source, Embed code, Narrative, ] |
| 17-Aug-2018 08:47 | Aerossurance | Updated [Source, Narrative, ] |
| 14-Nov-2018 21:11 | Nepa | Updated [Operator, Operator, ] |
| 14-Nov-2018 21:12 | Nepa | Updated [Operator, Operator, ] |
| 03-Jan-2019 14:38 | Aerossurance | Updated [Source, ] |
| 12-Jun-2019 09:50 | harro | Updated [Narrative, Accident report, ] |
| 17-Jul-2025 08:21 | BrownBoy | Updated [Departure airport, Destination airport, Narrative, ] |
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