What happened
On 30 June 2018, a Rotorsport UK MTO Sport, registration G-CIHH, was engaged in a private flight departing from the pilot's personal airstrip. The purpose of the flight was to survey livestock situated on hilly ground within the pilot's farm area. Weather conditions at the time were favorable, characterized by good visibility and light southerly winds.
Approximately 15 minutes into the flight, the pilot observed livestock in an unauthorized area and began counting them. During this period of observation, the pilot's attention shifted away from the flight instruments. While flying in a downwind direction, the pilot failed to notice a significant reduction in airspeed. As the aircraft approached rising terrain, the pilot realized the airspeed had dropped and the aircraft was descending rapidly through 100 ft agl. With insufficient altitude or space to recover speed, the pilot applied full power and maintained a straight heading, pointing the aircraft uphill to prevent a rollover. The aircraft made a hard touchdown with minimal forward velocity, resulting in extensive damage to the gyroplane. The pilot escaped the wreckage without injury.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The AAIB examined the sequence of events, noting that the transition from recognizing the loss of airspeed to the actual impact occurred in approximately five seconds. The investigation considered the impact of wind conditions, specifically the tailwind component, and the pilot's focus on the ground during the flight.