What happened
On 27 May 2005, an Agusta Bell 206A JetRanger, registration G-OJEF, was performing a private flight from a location near Southampton to Haverfordwest Airfield. Following a routine approach to Runway 21 in good weather conditions, the pilot hover taxied the aircraft along the runway and turned right onto the taxiway toward the refueling area.
During this taxi, the aircraft encountered challenging aerodynamic conditions. As the helicopter moved in a northerly direction, the wind was coming from the left rear quarter. This caused a weather-cocking effect that, when paired with airflow under the horizontal stabilizer, induced a nose-down pitch. The pilot attempted to raise the collective lever to initiate a takeoff, but the aircraft failed to climb or accelerate. Suspecting a technical malfunction, the pilot attempted an immediate landing.
As the aircraft neared the hangars, it underwent a sharp turn. The pilot's attempt to land resulted in the landing gear hitting the ground, causing the helicopter to bounce. During this bounce, the aircraft rolled excessively to the left, causing the main rotor blades to strike the grass surface east of the taxiway. The impact sheared the blades from the rotor mast, and the fuselage came to rest on its left side. There were no injuries to the two occupants.
The investigation
Investigators examined the flight sequence and interviewed witnesses, including two pilots who had recently landed at the airfield. One witness, an instructor pilot, observed the G-OJEF in a hover taxi before it became unstable, noting a rapid yaw to the left and a pitching and rolling motion. A second witness, also flying a Bell 206, corroborated the description of the unstable pitching and rolling motion.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating in a downwind condition, which prevented a normal takeoff reaction when the pilot attempted to increase power.
- A weather-cocking effect, combined with airflow under the horizontal stabilizer, created difficult handling characteristics.
- The main rotor blades detached from the mast after striking the ground during a high-rate descent and subsequent bounce.
- The sudden lowering of the collective pitch control during the landing attempt contributed to the high rate of descent and the subsequent roll.