What happened
On 22 January 2007, a Robinson R22 Beta, registration G-ROUT, was performing a private flight near Romiley, Stockport. The flight involved transporting a passenger from a site near Hawarden back to a private landing site in a paddock. The pilot, who had significant experience on this specific type but had very low flying hours in the preceding month, approached the site from a north-westerly direction over power lines and trees.
To facilitate the landing, the pilot established a high hover at approximately 75 ft agl just east of the landing site. During a slow right turn intended to align the aircraft into the wind, the helicopter began to descend. The pilot, attempting to manage the descent and prepare for landing, lowered the collective lever and subsequently raised it to cushion the touchdown. However, during this maneuver, the right skid of the helicopter struck a low wooden fence bounding the paddock, causing the aircraft to roll onto its side. The pilot sustained minor injuries, while the passenger was unhurt. The aircraft suffered substantial damage.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight conditions and the pilot's maneuvers. It was noted that the landing site was bounded by a wooden fence and that the approach path was initially designed to avoid built-up areas. The investigation established that the pilot was operating in a high hover using nearly maximum permitted manifold pressure. The pilot also noted that the wind direction was unusual and strong, and that his recent lack of flying currency may have influenced his decision-making.
Findings
- The pilot attempted to land with a strong tailwind, which contributed to the instability of the aircraft.
- The helicopter entered a state of descent that the pilot believed was conducive to a vortex ring condition.
- The proximity of the wooden fence limited the pilot's ability to execute a safe recovery or fly-away maneuver.
- The pilot's lack of recent flying experience (only 0.8 hours in the previous 90 days) was a contributing factor to the difficulty in managing the approach.