History of the Flight
The pilot of the Robinson R44 Raven II, registered as N999RL, contacted Shannon Air Traffic Control (ATC) Flight Information Service (FIS) at 14:32 UTC on 11 December 2022, reporting a departure from Ballygarret, Co. Wexford with an intended route to Rosslare and onward to Kilrush Airfield in Co. Kildare. At 14:58 UTC, the pilot advised Shannon FIS of a departure from Rosslare for Kilrush. Approximately 28 minutes later, at 15:26 UTC, the pilot reported switching to the Kilrush frequency.
ATC radar data shows the helicopter approaching the Kilrush area from the southeast. At 15:32 UTC, about 0.7 nautical miles southwest of Kilrush Airfield at an altitude of roughly 1,900 feet, the helicopter turned right (northeast) and continued past Kilrush toward the Kennycourt area, located approximately 6.7 nautical miles northeast of the airfield. The helicopter flew northeast beyond Kennycourt, then turned around near a point 1.5 nautical miles northeast of Kennycourt at about 2,400 feet and headed southwest back toward Kennycourt. The helicopter then flew back and forth over the Kennycourt area for several minutes until radar coverage was lost. The last radar position, recorded at 15:45 UTC, placed the helicopter approximately 0.3 nautical miles (556 meters) southeast of the accident site at an altitude of about 1,600 feet.
Video footage obtained by the investigation briefly shows the helicopter descending in a steep nose-down attitude during the final moments of the flight. A post-crash fire occurred and was later extinguished by local fire services.
Injuries to Persons
The pilot, who was the sole occupant of the helicopter, was fatally injured.
Aircraft Information
The Robinson R44 Raven II is a four-seat helicopter manufactured in 2005 with serial number 10614. It is powered by a Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 six-cylinder reciprocating engine, driving a two-bladed main rotor (diameter 10.06 meters) and a two-bladed tail rotor (diameter 1.47 meters). The helicopter is equipped with cyclic and collective controls, an anti-collision light on the tailcone, and navigation lights. Fuel is carried in two tanks with a total capacity of 180 liters, designed for 100LL aviation gasoline. A manufacturer's Service Bulletin (SB-78B) requires retrofitting bladder-lined fuel tanks to improve post-accident fuel leak resistance; the subject helicopter had SB-78A embodied on 3 November 2012.
The helicopter's Certificate of Airworthiness was issued by the FAA on 28 February 2005. The last annual inspection was certified on 7 June 2022, and the most recent maintenance, a 50-hour check, was certified on 10 October 2022 at a total operating time of 1,001 hours.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The accident site was located in an agricultural field near Kennycourt, approximately 6.7 nautical miles northeast of Kilrush Airfield and about 1 nautical mile southeast of Brannockstown, Co. Kildare. The site elevation was approximately 475 feet above mean sea level. The helicopter was destroyed by impact and a subsequent post-crash fire. The wreckage was compact, with all major components close to the main wreckage except for a piece of a main rotor blade found about 60 meters to the southwest and a large fragment of a portable fire extinguisher located approximately 38 meters to the southwest. The wreckage was recovered under escort to the AAIU's examination facility for further investigation.
Recorded Data
The investigation obtained radio communications between the pilot and Shannon FIS, ATC radar data, and Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) data. A mobile phone and a computer tablet found at the accident site were substantially damaged; their data availability is yet to be determined.