What happened
On July 7, 2007, a single-engine Hughes H369HS helicopter, registration N239MW, landed on the upper level of a multi-story car park in the center of Athlone, Co. Westmeath. The pilot, who was in the area to have keys cut for the aircraft, performed the landing on the roof of the structure. The flight was a private operation involving the pilot and one passenger.
During the approach, a car park attendant attempted to signal the pilot to abort the landing. As the aircraft continued its descent, the attendant sought shelter behind a stairwell door. The resulting downwash from the helicopter's main rotor caused the door to slam shut, striking the attendant's hand and causing minor soft tissue injuries. While the pilot believed he had received permission to land from a local shopping center manager, the car park was owned by a separate entity that had not authorized the use of the site.
The investigation
The AAIU investigation examined the legality of the landing site and the pilot's authorization. Investigators found that the landing site was an elevated, unlicensed structure located within a congested urban area. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's credentials, noting he held a valid FAA-issued Private Pilot License with approximately 131 flight hours.
Discrepancies in the accounts of the landing were noted: the attendant claimed he attempted to wave the aircraft away, while the pilot maintained the attendant was not present on the roof until the engines were shut down. Furthermore, the investigation clarified that the manager of the adjacent department store, who had granted permission, lacked the legal authority to authorize landings on the car park roof.