What happened
On 16 January 2013, an Agusta A109E, registration G-CRST, was conducting a flight from Redhill Aerodrome toward London Heliport. During the transit through Central London, the helicopter collided with a crane located near Vauxhall Bridge. The aircraft was operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) in controlled airspace. Following the impact, the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation examined the flight path, the aircraft's navigation systems, and the operational environment. Investigators reviewed radar data, onboard electronic data, and CCTV footage to reconstruct the sequence of events. The inquiry also looked into the status of the crane, the availability of aeronautical information regarding new obstacles, and the pilot's decision-making processes. The investigation specifically assessed the use of GPS devices, terrain warning systems, and the accuracy of the aeronautical databases used for navigation during the flight.