What happened
On the afternoon of 11 December 2022, a Robinson R44 Raven II, registration N999RL, was involved in a fatal accident in the Kennycourt area of Co. Kildare. The flight began in Ballygarrett, Co. Wexford, with a planned stop in Tagoat, Co. Wexford, before proceeding to Kilrush Airfield.
Radar data tracked the helicopter flying near Kilrush Airfield, where it performed several turns and flew back and forth over the Kennycourt region. At approximately 15:45 hrs, the aircraft was recorded at an altitude of 1,500 feet, just 0.4 nautical miles from the accident site. Video evidence captured the helicopter in a steep, nose-down descent during its final moments. The impact caused a post-crash fire that destroyed the aircraft. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
Investigators from the AAIU examined the wreckage and the engine at a specialized facility. The examination of the engine, which was dismantled by an approved overhaul organization, revealed no evidence of pre-existing defects that would have prevented normal operation. Similarly, the wreckage examination found no mechanical defects that would have hindered the helicopter's performance prior to the crash.
Witness accounts provided varying perspectives on the final moments. Some observers reported hearing the engine running until the moment of impact, while others noted a change in the sound of the rotor disc. Some witnesses observed the aircraft flying through low cloud and fog, with one person noting the helicopter climbed steeply into the clouds before descending nose-first into the field.
Meteorological data indicated that while conditions at the departure points in Wexford were clear, the accident site in Kildare was experiencing overcast skies and mist, with cloud bases as low as 100 feet and pockets of freezing fog.
Findings
- The aircraft was flying in an area characterized by low cloud and fog patches.
- The helicopter was observed by witnesses to be in a steep, nose-down attitude immediately prior to impact.
- No mechanical or engine defects were identified that would have prevented the aircraft from operating normally.