What happened
On the afternoon of 1 April 2009, a Schweizer 269C-1 helicopter, registered EI-CZL, departed Weston Airport, Co. Kildare, for a private flight training mission. The aircraft was occupied by a flight instructor and a student pilot. After departing at 16:01 hrs, the helicopter made its final radio communication at 16:12 hrs.
Following the loss of contact, the aircraft was not reported missing until the following morning, after a family member alerted the airfield. A search operation was launched by the Irish Coast Guard, which successfully located the wreckage in a bog area near Kilshanchoe at 11:27 hrs on 2 April 2009. The impact resulted in the destruction of the helicopter and 2 fatalities.
The investigation
The AAIU investigation established that the helicopter struck electrical transmission lines before impacting the ground in machined bog land, approximately 6 km east of Carbury. While the lines were not energized at the time of the collision, the contact was a primary factor in the crash. Investigators moved the wreckage to a facility in Gormanston for detailed examination.
Findings
- The aircraft struck unpowered electrical transmission lines during the flight.
- Weather conditions were not considered a contributing factor to the accident.
- There was a significant delay between the aircraft's last radio contact and the initiation of the search and rescue mission.