What happened
On the morning of 9 July 2005, a Robinson R44 Raven, registration EI-DOC, was conducting a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flight from New Ross, Co. Wexford, toward a base near Galway Airport. The flight was intended to allow passengers to view the start of the Tall Ships Race in Waterford.
Earlier that morning, the pilot had requested permission to enter the Waterford ATC zone to view the event, but this was denied due to poor visibility and low cloud cover. The pilot subsequently decided to fly west, bypassing the restricted zone, and maintained a flight plan at 2'000 ft.
As the helicopter progressed through the Galway region, it encountered rising terrain and a significant reduction in visibility. Radar tracking showed the aircraft slowing down and performing a sharp turn before losing contact. Shortly thereafter, the helicopter struck trees in a dense forest on the northern slopes of the Slieve Aughty Mountains, near Derrybrien. The impact destroyed the aircraft. The pilot and one passenger died as a result of the crash, while a second passenger survived with serious injuries.
The investigation
Investigators examined the flight path, weather conditions, and the aircraft's equipment. The investigation established that the helicopter was fully operational prior to the impact. While the aircraft was equipped with a Bendix King Skymap IIIC GPS, the unit's display was noted for its lack of detailed terrain contours, showing only coarse polygons and color variations.
Analysis of the radar data indicated that the transponder was set in Alpha Mode, meaning altitude information was not being transmitted to Shannon ATC. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's flight decisions, noting that the pilot chose a direct route over higher ground despite the presence of low cloud and mist.
Findings
- The pilot continued the flight into an area of rising terrain while experiencing significantly reduced visibility, which was below the legal minima for VFR flight.
- The pilot likely relied on a GPS-derived track that did not provide adequate terrain clearance information.
- The pilot experienced spatial disorientation due to a loss of ground reference in the final stages of the flight, leading to an unintentional loss of altitude and the subsequent collision with the terrain.
- The decision to fly over higher ground in deteriorating weather was a significant contributing factor.