What happened
On 3 March 2004, an Agusta A109E helicopter, registration G-PWER, was performing a private flight from Battersea Heliport to Bournemouth Airport. The flight, which included the pilot and one passenger, departed Battersea at 1859 hrs under favorable conditions. During the transit, the pilot contacted Solent Radar and was cleared to fly via Romsey to maintain separation from other traffic.
As the aircraft approached Bournemouth, meteorological conditions had deteriorated, with visibility reduced to 2,700 metres in light rain and low cloud layers. The pilot requested and was granted a straight-in approach to Runway 26. While the pilot reported becoming visual with the airfield, air traffic controllers were unable to visually locate the aircraft. Radar monitoring indicated that approximately 1 nm from the airport, the helicopter began a descending left turn. This maneuver continued for roughly 540 degrees, accompanied by erratic altitude readings. During the final 29 seconds of the flight, the pilot communicated distress, confirming a problem existed but failing to specify the nature of the emergency. The aircraft subsequently struck the ground at high speed in a nose-down, left-bank attitude. The impact resulted in two fatalities.
The investigation
AAIB inspectors examined the wreckage at the accident site and later moved the remains to a facility in Hampshire for detailed analysis. The investigation focused on the flight path, the aircraft's mechanical state, and the pilot's communications. Evidence from eyewitnesses and the distribution of wreckage suggested the Agusta A109E remained intact until the moment of impact, despite the subsequent intense fire that destroyed the airframe.