What happened
On 19 February 2017, a Bell 206B Jet Ranger III, registration G-BTHY, was conducting a series of commercial passenger sightseeing flights from Manston, Kent. During the first flight, while cruising at approximately 700 ft agl along the coast near Sandwich Bay, the pilot observed a kite in close proximity and performed evasive maneuvers. The pilot did not realize that the aircraft had made contact with a kite line.
Following the completion of several flights, a ground crew member noticed a scuff mark on the windscreen. A subsequent inspection of the aircraft revealed significant damage, including abrasions and an incision on a main rotor blade, damage to the main rotor pitch change links, and marks on the vertical fin and cockpit windows.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation established that the contact likely occurred during the first flight near the Sandwich Bay Estate. While the pilot noted kites in the area during subsequent flights, the initial impact went undetected by the crew. The investigation examined the damage to the Bell 206B Jet Ranger III and found that the kite line may have been coated with an abrasive substance, a common practice in competitive kite fighting to facilitate cutting through opponent lines.
Investigators also reviewed the regulatory requirements for kite flying. Under the Air Navigation Order 2016, kite flying that presents a hazard to airspace users or exceeds 60 metres above ground level without CAA permission is prohibited. In this instance, the activity had not been notified to the CAA, and therefore no NOTAM had been issued to warn approaching aircraft.
Findings
- The aircraft struck a kite line while flying at low altitude near the coast.
- The kite flying activity was being conducted without CAA permission and without the issuance of a NOTAM.
- The kite string may have been coated with an abrasive substance, which contributed to the damage to the rotor blade and airframe components.
- The damage to the aircraft, while repairable, demonstrated the potential for much more severe consequences in similar encounters.