What happened
On September 22, 2018, at approximately 12:30 LMT, a Robinson R-44 Raven II was conducting a private flight originating from and returning to Pyskowice. During the final approach to the landing site, the aircraft was at an altitude of approximately 10 meters when the pilot encountered a sudden, violent wind gust.
Unable to stabilize the helicopter in a hover following the gust, the pilot elected to proceed with the landing. This decision resulted in a hard landing, causing significant structural damage to the tail fin, the tail rotor blades, and the tail skid.
The investigation
The investigation, conducted by the operator, focused on the sequence of events during the approach and the pilot's response to the environmental conditions. The inquiry established that the aircraft's descent was interrupted by atmospheric turbulence that prevented a controlled hover.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the pilot's improper reaction to the wind gust, which led to the hard landing and subsequent damage to the Robinson R-44 Raven II.
- There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger.