Helicopter crash probably due to loss of control during training manoeuvre

The scene in July 2024 after the helicopter crashed into a building in Joristown Upper townland in Killucan, Co Westmeath. Picture: Damien Eagers/PA

A fatal helicopter crash which resulted in the death of two people in Co Westmeath two years ago was probably due to a loss of control of the aircraft during a training manoeuvre to simulate an engine failure, an investigation has found.

Instructor Antonin Kabelka (47) from Czechia and his student Niall Cosby (46) from Glenageary, Co Dublin were killed after their Bell 505 Jet Ranger X helicopter crashed into a piggery near Killucan, Co Westmeath at 2.25pm on July 30, 2024, during a training flight.

The fatal incident happened when control of the helicopter was lost at low altitude during a sixth practice autorotation.

An autorotation is an exercise designed to simulate a complete engine failure by using the upward flow of air during a controlled descent to keep the main rotor spinning in order to glide and land safely.

The helicopter, which had taken off from Weston Aerodrome in west Dublin, initially impacted with the surface of an agricultural field before striking the gable wall and roof of a piggery where it came to rest nose-down.

Mr Cosby, a founder of a London-based software company, AG Grid, had bought the US-registered, five-seater helicopter in Malta in June 2023 while he was completing his first helicopter flight training course.

Mr Kabelka, an instructor with over 5,200 hours of flying experience, had arrived in Ireland just two days before the fatal incident and had completed two training flights with Mr Cosby and another trainee on July 29, 2024.

Air Accident Investigation Unit report

A report by the Air Accident Investigation Unit found no evidence to indicate any pre-existing problem with any engine part that might have contributed to the fatal accident.

The AAIU noted that international statistics showed that a high proportion of accidents involving helicopters occur during autorotations.

They showed the number one error is the failure of a flight instructor to take control back before a point is reached where an instructor cannot recover the helicopter in time to prevent damage or injury.

The AAIU noted that one helicopter manufacturer had recommended that no more than 3 or 4 consecutive autorotations should be carried out due to the high percentage of training accidents that occur after many consecutive autorotations.

The AAIU said the fact that it was the sixth consecutive autorotation meant it was possible the instructor’s focus had been adversely affected and the student had become fatigued.