What happened
On October 1, 2018, a recreational flight was being conducted in a KONNER K2 ultralight helicopter, registration N. I-D035. The flight was traveling from Karlino to Brzezie, with a planned return to Karlino. The flight was operating under VFR conditions, and the pilot had been communicating their position to FIS Gdańsk.
While flying at approximately 1,000 feet AGL during the approach to Karlino, the helicopter experienced an uncontrolled right tilt. Unable to maintain level flight using the controls, the pilot attempted an autorotative landing by pulling the collective lever to the bottom and lowering the nose to maintain airspeed and rotor RPM. As the pilot searched for a landing site, the aircraft entered a wooded area near Dobrowo. The main rotor blades struck tree tops, and the aircraft descended approximately 4 meters to the ground, resting on its right side with the tail rotor contacting trees. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger, both of whom exited the cabin safely.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation examined the sequence of events leading to the loss of engine power and the physical state of the aircraft. The investigation established that the aircraft had undergone all necessary pre-flight technical checks and refueling. The investigators also examined the cockpit layout, specifically the placement of the engine shutdown mechanism.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the unintentional engine shutdown caused by the passenger pressing the electronic engine kill button located on the collective lever.
- The location of the collective lever on the left side, near the passenger seat, makes it susceptible to accidental activation if grasped even lightly.
- The impact with trees caused significant damage to the main and tail rotor blades, the landing skids, the cockpit glazing, and various antennas.