Distraction at ‘critical’ setdown point
a PILOT crashed his helicopter when he was distracted by his mobile phone ringing.
The Air Accident Investigation Unit published a report into the incident at Carrahane Strand, near
Tralee, Co Kerry, in July.
The pilot was practising low-altitude landing and hovering manoeuvres in the Enstrom 280FX when he lost control.
The investigation found:
“The pilot had decided to take a short break from practice and elected to land in the lagoon which had a landing surface of soft, wet sand.
“When the helicopter was touching the ground but still light on the skids, the pilot’s mobile rang.
“He glanced at the telephone which was mounted on a bracket beside the instrument panel in order to identify the caller. The pilot reported that, at the same time as this momentary distraction, a gust of wind from the west hit the right-hand side of the helicopter.
“It rolled on to its left-hand side causing significant damage.
“The pilot, who was uninjured, exited the helicopter through the right-hand door.
“He told the investigation the accident sequence was over in an instant.”
The AAIU concluded: “Landing a helicopter is a critical phase of flight when circumstances can change rapidly.
“For this reason, any distraction during landing can contribute to an upset unless a prompt intervention is initiated.
“Many pilots carry portable electronic devices which may be useful, but are also a potential source of distraction.”