What happened
On May 22, 2022, a Rotorway A600 Talon, registration OY-HLW, was engaged in a private VFR test flight near Karise. The flight was intended to perform hover maneuvers between two prepared landing fields. Before departure, the pilot noted northwest winds of approximately 6 to 8 knots, which was near the recommended maximum limit of 8 knots for the test flight.
During the maneuver, the pilot attempted to turn the nose left toward the wind to land at the southeast field. However, the wind caught the tail rotor plane more forcefully than anticipated, causing the aircraft to rotate too rapidly. Despite attempts to correct the movement using the cyclic and pedals, the pilot lost control of the helicopter. At an altitude of only about 1.5 meters, the pilot attempted an emergency landing, but the aircraft tilted to the right, causing the main rotor and the right side of the fuselage to strike the ground. The impact resulted in one serious injury to the pilot and significant damage to the rotor system, tail boom, and landing gear.
The investigation
The Danish Accident Investigation Board examined the pilot's qualifications, the aircraft's technical condition, and the meteorological environment. The investigation established that while the pilot held a valid PPL(H), they lacked a specific national flight permit for the Rotorway A600 Talon. The pilot had last flown this specific type in 2017, meaning their experience on the model was very low. Furthermore, the aircraft lacked a governor, requiring the pilot to manually manage rotor RPM via the throttle.
The investigation also looked into the regulatory framework for amateur-built aircraft. It was found that the Danish Civil Aviation Authority (Trafikstyrelsen) lacked specific, published guidelines for obtaining or maintaining pilot qualifications for such experimental aircraft types.
Findings
- The pilot's proficiency in helicopter operations was generally low, and their specific experience with the Rotorway A600 Talon was extremely limited due to a four-year gap since their last flight in the type.
- Wind conditions were at the edge of the recommended safety limits for the test flight, and gusts up to 12 knots were recorded following the accident.
- The low altitude of the maneuver prevented the pilot from recovering control once the aircraft began to rotate unexpectedly.
Safety action
The investigation led to a safety recommendation (DK.SIA-2023-0001) for the Danish Civil Aviation Authority to develop and publish formal rules and guidelines regarding the acquisition and maintenance of pilot qualifications for amateur-built helicopters.