Overview
On 8 May 2004, a Robinson R44 helicopter, registration G-CBXX, was involved in an accident near Conlig, Bangor, Northern Ireland. The aircraft was performing a private flight under the control of a single pilot. The helicopter sustained severe damage, but the pilot reported no injuries.
Flight Details
The pilot, aged 56, held a Private Pilot's Licence and had accumulated 280 total flying hours, all on the Robinson R44 type. His recent flying experience included 4 hours in the last 90 days and 3 hours in the last 28 days. The helicopter was powered by one Lycoming O-540-F1B5 piston engine and had been manufactured in 2002.
Incident Sequence
After an uneventful 10-minute flight with one passenger, the pilot landed in a northerly direction on a level field on his farm to allow the passenger to disembark. The weather was good with a northerly surface wind of approximately 5 kt. While the pilot (in the front right seat) maintained a constant cyclic position, the passenger exited from the front left seat and cleared the helicopter to the front. Once clear, the pilot applied collective and lifted into a hover. Almost immediately, he noticed that the cyclic control was almost fully forward and felt very "light." The aircraft began to oscillate in pitch. Unable to control this oscillation, the pilot prioritised landing, which resulted in a hard landing. Subsequently, the helicopter rolled onto its side.
Investigation
An investigation was conducted based on a report submitted by the pilot. No defect with the control system could be identified, although the impact had caused severe disruption to the controls.