What happened
On the evening of 27 October 2018, an Agusta AW169, registration G-VSKP, was involved in a fatal accident at the King Power Stadium in Leicester. The helicopter had been operating a series of private flights throughout the day, including movements between Fairoaks Airport, London Heliport, and a training ground in Leicester.
Following a period of being parked on the stadium pitch, the pilot and four passengers boarded the aircraft for a flight to London Stansted Airport. The helicopter departed from the center circle of the pitch at 1934 hrs. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft began a climb on a rearward flight path. As the helicopter reached a height of approximately 320 ft, the landing gear retraction process began.
During the climb, the aircraft experienced a significant flight control issue. While the pilot initially made heading changes consistent with pedal inputs, the helicopter subsequently entered an increasing right yaw that was contrary to the pilot's left pedal command. After reaching a radar altitude of roughly 430 ft, the aircraft entered a high-rate descent and struck a stepped concrete surface. The impact caused the aircraft to roll onto its side and ignited an intense post-impact fire. The accident resulted in 5 fatalities (one crew member and four passengers) and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation involved international cooperation with representatives from Italy, Canada, Thailand, and Poland, alongside the UK CAA and EASA. Investigators examined the wreckage, which had suffered substantial damage due to the intensity of the fire, and recovered the aircraft's Combined Voice and Flight Data Recorder (CVFDR) for analysis.
Technical examination focused on the aircraft's systems and the flight path recorded by the data recorders. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were clear with good visibility, though winds at 1,000 ft were measured between 25 and 30 knots.
Findings
- The helicopter experienced a loss of yaw control during the climb.
- The aircraft's heading changed in a direction opposite to the pilot's left pedal input.
- The impact occurred with the landing gear in the retracted position.
Safety action
Following the incident, the manufacturer issued Alert Service Bulletins (ASB 169-120 and ASB 189-213) for the AW169 and AW189 fleets, instructing a precautionary inspection of the tail rotor control assembly. These inspections were mandated by EASA via Airworthiness Directive 2018-0241-E.