History of the Flight
The pilot of Robinson R44 Astro, registration G-WEMS, was returning to Shobdon Airfield after a short flight that included a landing away and a shutdown. Coordination with Shobdon Air/Ground radio was made for an approach to Runway 27 'grass' on the north side. The approach was normal, and the helicopter came to a hover 30 metres past the threshold. Shobdon Radio then advised that an aircraft was taxiing for takeoff from Runway 27 'hard', so the pilot hover-taxied past this aircraft and turned right towards the north and the landing pads outside the helicopter base hangar, although it appears he intended to stop on the wide concrete apron in front of the hangar.
The Accident
As the helicopter settled onto the apron, it entered a violent oscillation, described by the pilot as "shaking in all directions" before falling onto its right side and shedding large sections of its main rotor blades. Still under power, the stubs of the blades drove the helicopter sideways until it came to rest against the hangar doors. The pilot shut the engine down and evacuated the helicopter with his passenger through the shattered windscreen on the right side. Neither had been injured apart from very minor whiplash sustained by the passenger.
Damage
The aircraft was damaged beyond economic repair. The hangar doors and roof were badly damaged by flying debris. A Twin Squirrel helicopter inside the hangar sustained a broken windscreen, and another helicopter was slightly damaged.
Pilot Experience
The pilot held a Private Pilot's Licence and was 48 years old. His total flying experience was 1,016 hours, of which only 8 were on type, with 0.7 hours as Pilot in Command on this type. His last 90 days included 18 hours, and the last 28 days 2 hours.
Contributing Factors
The pilot was unable to account for the perceived oscillations and loss of control. The wind was light and variable from the west, and he had not been so close to the hangar that the rotor blades might have made contact. No eyewitnesses were present at touchdown. The pilot mentioned that his very low hours on this helicopter type may have been a factor.