A REPORT into a helicopter crash in Bettystown, Co Meath, in 2008 said it was “remarkable” that no serious injuries occurred to any members of the public resulting from the incident.
The investigation by the Air Accident Investigation Unit found that the pilot had attempted to land a Sikorsky S76B helicopter in an “unsuitable small car park” in the centre of the village on September 18th, 2008.
Having initially landed the helicopter on the beach at Bettystown, where two passengers alighted, the pilot subsequently flew the helicopter to the hotel car park about 100 metres away. He was recorded as saying: “Better move out of here, there’s too many people.”
In an interview with the pilot, investigators were told that he had done so on the understanding that the car park would be kept clear.
However, as he flew above the car park, he saw a silver SUV “which caused him some concern”. He waited until a woman and a child standing beside the SUV descended down a ramp before continuing his descent.
During a subsequent attempted vertical landing, the main rotor of the helicopter hit with a lamppost, causing it to rotate violently and descend on to a low wall.
The wall tore out the bottom of the helicopter’s fuselage and ruptured the fuel tanks, which were in the forward under-floor area of the fuselage. The escaping fuel led to a fire, which engulfed the helicopter “in two seconds” and destroyed it.
The pilot managed to escape from the helicopter, sustaining only minor injuries. Two bystanders also suffered minor injuries.
“The investigation considers it remarkable that no serious injuries resulted from this accident, considering the confined and congested location,” the report stated.
It noted that “considerable collateral damage” occurred when debris from the main and tail rotors hit nearby properties and cars.
The report concluded that the helicopter had a valid certificate of airworthiness but that the investigation was unable to satisfy itself regarding the validity of the pilot’s licence to conduct this flight.
It found that he had attempted a vertical landing without the required crew complement and that the approach profile used did not comply with the requirements of the flight manual.