What happened
On 28 November 1998, an SA341G Gazelle 1, registration N123TY, departed from a private landing site in Hartlepool, intending to fly to Weybridge with a scheduled refueling stop at Gamston. The flight was a private operation carrying a total of four people, including the pilot.
While navigating toward the Cleveland Hills, the pilot noted that the cloudbase was lower than the conditions predicted in a meteorological forecast obtained the previous day. In an attempt to avoid the terrain, the pilot notified Teess/side ATC of his intention to fly west through a gap in the hills. However, upon reaching the gap, the pilot found the cloud layer had descended even further. After notifying ATC of his decision to return to Hartlepool, the pilot initiated a right-hand turn to move away from the high ground. During this maneuver, the aircraft entered cloud cover, and the pilot lost visual contact with the ground. The pilot reported to ATC that he was flying at 850 feet on instruments. During the period of instrument flight, the pilot began a descent, eventually regaining visual contact with the terrain at approximately 50 feet. Despite attempts to flare the aircraft and increase power, the helicopter struck the ground. The impact resulted in the destruction of the helicopter, though the pilot and three passengers escaped with minor injuries.
The investigation
The investigation examined the meteorological conditions and the pilot's flight profile. Meteorological data from the day of the accident confirmed that a cold front was moving east across the region, bringing cloudbases as low as 1,000 feet, with patches potentially dropping to 500 feet. The investigation established that the actual weather conditions were consistent with the meteorological aftercast. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's experience and the regulatory requirements for the aircraft type.
Findings
- The pilot attempted to navigate through terrain while encountering cloud layers that were lower than previously forecast.
- The pilot entered cloud and lost visual reference to the ground while performing a turn to avoid high ground.
- The pilot attempted to fly the single-engine helicopter by sole reference to flight instruments, a capability for which pilots holding a Private Pilot's Licence for this type are neither trained nor required to demonstrate.
- The aircraft was unable to avoid ground impact despite the pilot's efforts to flare and apply power.