What happened
On 26 February 2019, a Robinson R44 Raven, registration G-HWKS, was conducting a private flight near Sketrick Island, County Down. While the pilot was performing a final approach to a private landing site, the aircraft struck electrical power lines that spanned the water between the mainland and the island.
Following the impact, the pilot performed an immediate landing on a nearby road. The helicopter sustained damage to the main rotor blades, along with minor damage to the tail cone and the mast. There were no injuries reported for the pilot or the two passengers on board.
The investigation
The investigation examined the circumstances of the contact with the electrical infrastructure. It was noted that power lines and wires can be exceptionally difficult for pilots to identify from the air, as utility poles—particularly wooden ones—can easily blend into the surrounding landscape or be obscured by vegetation.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the impact with electrical power lines during the approach phase.
- The investigation highlighted that wires are often encountered in unexpected locations in rural environments and may not be indicated on standard aviation charts.
- The difficulty in spotting wires is compounded by the fact that poles are often the only visible indicator of the lines' presence.