What happened
On 15 July 2007, at approximately 18:00 UTC, a Robinson R44 RAVEN (II), registration G-OSJL, was performing a private solo flight near Maynooth, Co. Kildare. The pilot was returning to a private base at Taghadoe, which features a concrete helipad and a nearby hangar.
During the final approach and attempt to hover over the concrete pad, the aircraft experienced an unintentional rearward movement. This shift caused the tail skid to strike the helipad. The impact triggered a 180-degree spin of the helicopter. As the aircraft settled back onto the pad, the force of the impact caused the vertical fin and the tail rotor to shear off. The pilot was able to exit the aircraft safely, and no injuries were reported. There was no fire following the incident.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the impact with the concrete surface. Weather conditions at the time were favorable, characterized by good visibility exceeding 10 km and a light 8-knot easterly wind. Investigators examined the mechanical state of the aircraft and the pilot's control inputs during the hover phase. The investigation also noted that the pilot had 96 hours of flight experience, all of which were on this specific aircraft type.
Findings
- The primary cause of the damage was slight overcontrolling during the hover, which resulted in the aircraft moving backward.
- The pilot's lack of extensive experience may have contributed to the unintended rearward movement.
- The impact with the concrete helipad was severe enough to cause the structural failure of the tail rotor and vertical fin.