An experienced helicopter pilot has been blamed for an emergency landing on a trip from last year's Ryder Cup, a report revealed today.
The aircraft was carrying four Spanish business people from the final day at the K Club to Adare, Co Limerick had only around 100 litres of fuel on board - just enough for half the journey. The pilot, who ignored the gauge reading, thought he had 302 litres.
After 40 minutes in the air he was forced to make an emergency "run-on" landing in a farmer's field near Dunkerrin on the Offaly-Tipperary border sliding 45m down a slope after touching down. No-one was injured and there was no damage to the helicopter.
Air Accident Investigators said the pilot's failure to thoroughly check the fuel level was a lapse of airmanship. They said he should have cancelled the flight.
The investigation also criticised the fuelling operation at the K Club. Seven recommendations were made including new rules on hot fuelling which involves helicopters refuelling when engines and rotors are running. Pilots should also have to verify fuel levels.
The pilot, the chief at a UK based helicopter company with 15,000 hours flying time, took the word of the refuelling team who said more than 300 litres had been supplied. Only 10 litres had been supplied.
But the AAIU also accepted the pilot probably never envisaged such a scenario and he was the only one out of 400 to suffer any problem. Celtic Helicopters, which ran 400 refuelling operation during the Ryder Cup, told the investigation all bar this one went went according to plan.
PA