What happened
On 16 May 2011, a Robinson R44 Raven, registration G-GDOV, was conducting a private local flight with the intention of landing at the grounds of the Gidleigh Park Hotel in Chagford, Devon. The hotel lacks a formal helipad, and the pilot had previously landed in a nearby field.
During the landing sequence, the pilot initially touched down but, after sensing a bump and hearing an unusual noise, attempted to reposition the aircraft. As the helicopter lifted into a hover, it began to oscillate from side to side before veering toward the left. The aircraft subsequently struck a tree and rolled onto its right side. Both the pilot and the passenger sustained minor injuries and were able to exit the aircraft through the broken front canopy. The helicopter was destroyed in the accident.
The investigation
The investigation established that the pilot had received an email from the hotel containing a diagram of suitable landing areas. However, this email had been filtered into a spam folder, meaning the pilot was unaware that the area east of the gravel path was the recommended landing zone. The pilot had instead targeted an area west of the path.
Upon inspecting the site after the accident, the pilot noted the presence of small rocks near the touchdown point and suggested that the skid may have struck one of these objects during the repositioning maneuver. The pilot also noted that the grass in the area was approximately 10 inches long.
Findings
- The pilot attempted to land in an area of the hotel grounds that was not the specifically designated landing zone due to a failure to see instructional email.
- The aircraft struck a tree during a repositioning maneuver in a hover.
- Small rocks were present near the touchdown location, which may have interfered with the landing skid.