What happened
On the evening of 3 March 2004, an Agusta A109E, registration G-PWER, was conducting a visual approach to Bournemouth (Hurn) Airport. The flight was operating at night in deteriorating weather conditions. Radar tracking showed the aircraft following the extended centreline of Runway 2ng at an altitude between 800 and 1,000 feet above mean sea level. Although the pilot reported maintaining visual contact with the airport, radar data subsequently showed the helicopter entering a left-hand turn. The aircraft completed a rotation of approximately 540° before impacting the ground. The accident resulted in two fatalities, involving both the pilot and the passenger.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and found no evidence of mechanical failure or any unauthorized interference with the aircraft or its systems. The investigation focused on the flight's regulatory status and the pilot's ability to maintain visual references. While the flight was conducted under Special VFR rules within the control zones, it was subject to Instrument Flight Rules when operating outside those zones. The investigation established that the pilot's limited experience in instrument flying was insufficient to manage the degraded visual environment encountered during the approach.
Findings
- The pilot likely experienced spatial disorientation due to the loss of external visual references.
- The deteriorating meteorological conditions contributed to a seriously degraded visual environment or the inadvertent entry into instrument meteorological conditions.
- The pilot's background in instrument flight was inadequate for the conditions encountered.
Safety action
Following the accident, a safety recommendation was issued suggesting that the Civil Aviation Authority review the Rules of the Air regarding helicopters. The recommendation proposed the implementation of minimum visibility requirements for day and night operations to provide a sufficient safety margin and prevent inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological conditions.