Guimbal Cabri G2 (G-FICH), uncontrolled yaw resulting in ground contact, Leicester Airport, Leicestershire, 27 September 2024
During a period of hovering at the end of an instructional flight, the helicopter began to yaw to the left. This yaw rapidly accelerated and G-FICH completed four rotations before striking the ground. Whilst the commander reported no injuries after the accident, he died seven days later from an unrelated medical condition.
The helicopter examination did not reveal any technical faults that could have caused or contributed to the accident. Evidence from the manufacturer and operator demonstrated that applying and maintaining full opposite pedal will stop rotation in the situation encountered on the accident flight. It is likely that full pedal was not applied and/or not held long enough to effect a recovery.
The helicopter was equipped with adjustable pedals on the right side but not on the left where the commander was sat. The manufacturer has taken safety action to install adjustable pedals in the left seat of all new models of the Cabri G2 as well as to add a pre-flight check of the travel of the fenestron.
