ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 194458
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| Date: | Wednesday 29 March 2017 |
| Time: | 11:55 LT |
| Type: |  Aérospatiale AS 355F1 Ecureuil II |
| Owner/operator: | V21 t/a Helicopter Services |
| Registration: | G-OHCP |
| MSN: | 5249 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1982 |
| Engine model: | Allison 250-C20F |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Rhinog Mountains, Snowdonia, North Wales -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Passenger - Non-Scheduled/charter/Air Taxi |
| Departure airport: | |
| Weston Airport (EIWT) | |
| Investigating agency: | AAIB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The helicopter was flying on a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flight plan from its operating base near Cranfield Airport on a direct track to a private site near Dublin. The weather on departure was suitable for VFR flight but, as forecast, deteriorated markedly in the area of Snowdonia with low cloud and rain. The helicopter flew over a witness 4.3 nm southeast of the accident site before disappearing into the cloud. Shortly afterwards it struck the east side of Rhinog Fawr Mountain, fatally injuring the five occupants.
Conclusion
The accident occurred after the helicopter entered cloud while descending. The pilot did not carry out a 180° turn away from the rising ground and probably did not regain VMC before impact with the side of the mountain.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-39436401
2. https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/major-search-missing-helicopter-caernarfon-12817541
3. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3210670/helicopter-missing-irish-sea-caernarfon-bay-latest-updates/
4. https://publicapps.caa.co.uk/modalapplication.aspx?catid=1&pagetype=65&appid=1&mode=detailnosummary&fullregmark=OHCP
5. https://www.north-wales.police.uk/news-and-appeals/missing-helicopter-and-passengers-found?lang=en-gb
6. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-39445384
7. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-43321682#
Images:
Manchester- Barton City Airport (EGCB) Lancashire, UK - 29th September 2007
Media:
Update - Missing Helicopter: https://t.co/MkeyzUmfRu
— North Wales Police (@NWPolice) March 30, 2017
The AAIB has sent a team to North Wales to investigate a helicopter accident.
— AAIB (@aaibgovuk) March 30, 2017
Mountain Rescue teams locate missing private helicopter in Rhinog Mountains, Snowdonia. Five confirmed dead. https://t.co/JcNLflHF9S
— Mountain Rescue (@mountrescueuk) March 30, 2017
BBC News - Fatal Snowdonia AS350 helicopter in march 2017 crashed flying through clouds.https://t.co/o6jr1owXqZ pic.twitter.com/vSMWo60C4n
— Planes Of Legend (@PlanesOfLegend) 8 mars 2018
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 29-Mar-2017 22:05 | dh1141b | Added |
| 29-Mar-2017 22:57 | Geno | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Source] |
| 29-Mar-2017 23:18 | Geno | Updated [Destination airport] |
| 30-Mar-2017 07:20 | Aerossurance | Updated [Time, Operator, Location, Nature, Source, Narrative] |
| 30-Mar-2017 14:14 | Aerossurance | Updated [Operator, Total fatalities, Other fatalities, Location, Damage, Narrative] |
| 30-Mar-2017 15:03 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 30-Mar-2017 18:39 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Embed code] |
| 31-Mar-2017 07:26 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 31-Mar-2017 10:51 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Embed code] |
| 08-Mar-2018 07:11 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Time, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 08-Mar-2018 07:11 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Embed code, Narrative] |
| 08-Mar-2018 12:21 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Time, Source, Narrative] |
| 08-Mar-2018 20:26 | harro | Updated [Source] |
| 05-Jul-2020 20:26 | Peter Clarke | Updated [Departure airport, Destination airport, Photo] |
| 20-Nov-2023 13:32 | harro | Updated [Other fatalities, Departure airport, Narrative] |
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