Accident Overview
On 25 March 2021 at 09:47 UTC, a Guimbal G2 Cabri helicopter, registration OK-GUI, operated by a legal entity, was involved in an accident at Kladno Airport (LKKL). The helicopter was destroyed, and the passenger sustained serious injuries. The pilot was not injured.
Flight Details
The pilot had planned a series of recreational flights totaling approximately 5 hours on the Cabri G2 at Kladno. The purpose was to accumulate required flight time on type to qualify as an instructor with the operator. The day before, the pilot had flown about 1 hour in day VFR and 1 hour in night VFR conditions with an instructor. On the morning of the accident, approximately 3 hours remained. After a preflight inspection and refueling, the pilot began flying solo. During the third solo flight, the passenger was on board.
Accident Sequence
According to the pilot's testimony, he performed a hover demonstration and flew a circuit. After landing, he initiated low-level maneuvering over the runway, conducting turns between the side markings of Runway 30. He planned to conclude the exercise with a left braking turn into the wind, transitioning to a hover. During this maneuver, the left skid of the main landing gear struck rising terrain near the threshold of Runway 12. Subsequently, the main rotor blades contacted the ground, and the helicopter rolled onto its left side.
Injuries and Damage
The passenger suffered serious injuries and was evacuated from the cabin by the pilot, who then called emergency services via 155. The passenger was airlifted to a hospital. The helicopter was completely destroyed due to contact of rotating components with the ground. The pilot was uninjured.
Investigation
The Czech accident investigation authority (ÚZPLN) was notified and dispatched inspectors to the site. The investigation included examination of the wreckage, documentation of the scene, and review of pilot statements. The final report was issued on 6 September 2021.