What happened
On 27 August 2000, an MD600 helicopter, registration G-THUG, was conducting a private flight to a landing area located on a private site in Woolstaston, Shropshire. The flight had originated from a nearby landing site near Shawbury. The landing area consisted of a steep grass slope, though the terrain was within the permissible limits for the aircraft type.
Weather conditions at the time of the incident were favorable, with visibility exceeding 10 km, light winds from the west, and minimal cloud cover. The pilot established a stable hover over the slope, positioning the aircraft nose-up. The touchdown was performed in a controlled manner, with the rear of the skids making contact first before the aircraft was lowered onto the ground.
As the pilot prepared to reduce power, a sudden movement of the cyclic pitch control occurred. It is believed that the control was moved too far aft, causing the helicopter to rock backward. In an attempt to correct this motion, the pilot applied a forward input that was excessive. This resulted in the main rotor blades striking the ground in front of the aircraft, which caused the helicopter to rotate and roll onto its right side. There were no injuries to the pilot or the three passengers on board, though the aircraft suffered substantial damage.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the sequence of control inputs during the final moments of the landing. The crew evacuated the aircraft following the impact, with the pilot ensuring the fuel and electrical systems were deactivated. The passengers exited through the rear door, while the pilot and the front passenger exited through the broken transparencies of the cockpit.