Fatal Helicopter Crash Near River Wyre Following Emergency Call

Casualties unknown • East bank of River Wyre, near Stalmine, Lancashire, GB

A training flight in a Schweizer 269C-1 ended in a fatal crash near Stalmine, Lancashire, after the pilot reported an engine failure.

What happened

On 22 September 2009, a Schweizer 269C-1 helicopter, registration G-LINX, was conducting a training flight near Blackpool. The aircraft departed Blackpool Airport with an instructor and a student on board. After flying along the coast, the helicopter performed several low-level manoeuvres near Knott End-on-Sea, climbing and descending at heights consistent with practice autorotations.

At 1102 hrs, the instructor transmitted a mayday message to Blackpool Approach, stating "failure." Shortly after this transmission, the aircraft's track changed toward the east, and it began a rapid descent. The helicopter struck the ground on the eastern bank of the River Wyre, near Stalmine. The impact resulted in two fatalities, as both the pilot and the student sustained fatal injuries. The aircraft was destroyed in the crash.

The investigation

The AAIB investigation examined the wreckage, engine components, and radar data. Analysis of the radio transmissions revealed that during the final moments of the mayday call, the rotational speed of the main rotor was decreasing. A steady, high-frequency tone was also recorded, which was identified as the rotor low-speed audible warning.

Engine examination showed no mechanical failures in the primary rotary drive components. However, investigators found a weak right magneto and a fuel injector servo that was slightly out of tolerance. While the engine was otherwise intact, the investigation considered whether an abrupt throttle closure during a practice manoeuvre might have caused an engine stoppage. The investigation also noted that the helicopter was operating at a low altitude, which limited the pilot's ability to reposition the aircraft for a safer landing into the wind.

Findings

  • The pilot responded to an emergency, likely involving a loss of power, but the specific cause of the power loss could not be determined.
  • The aircraft was at an altitude of approximately 400 ft when the emergency manoeuvres began, which provided insufficient height to reposition the helicopter for a landing into the wind.
  • The location of the helicopter over the downwind bank of the River Wyette restricted the options for a successful forced landing.
  • The descent following the mayday call was accompanied by a loss of rotor RPM, leading to the fatal impact.

Probable cause

The pilot attempted to manage an emergency, likely an engine power loss, at an altitude and position that prevented a safe landing into the wind, resulting in a loss of rotor RPM and a high-speed impact.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2009-09-22 Schweizer 269C-1 accident near East bank of River Wyre, near Stalmine, Lancashire, GB?

A training flight in a Schweizer 269C-1 ended in a fatal crash near Stalmine, Lancashire, after the pilot reported an engine failure.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2009-09-22 involved a Schweizer 269C-1, registration G-LINX, at East bank of River Wyre, near Stalmine, Lancashire, GB.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot attempted to manage an emergency, likely an engine power loss, at an altitude and position that prevented a safe landing into the wind, resulting in a loss of rotor RPM and a high-speed impact.

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