A refuelling error at the K Club almost resulted in tragedy for Ryder Cup fans when a helicopter ferrying them to Limerick had to make a forced landing with the tank almost empty.
According to an air accident investigation report yesterday, the helicopter had only 6.5 litres of fuel - enough for three minutes' flying time - when it landed.
The pilot had become concerned following a slight engine surge and came down in a field near the village of Dunkerrin, on the Offaly/Tipperary border.
"The pilot's realisation, however late in the day, that he had a fuel problem came just in time to carry out an autorotation before the engine flamed out," said investigator Frank Russell.
Describing the incident as "serious", Mr Russell makes seven safety recommendations involving "hot-refuelling". This is undertaken while the helicopter's engine and rotors are running and the pilot remains on the controls. It was crucial to Ryder Cup organisers as it allowed more than 400 helicopters a day to make quick turnarounds.
The report says the 59-year-old pilot had taken off from the K Club for Adare with four passengers on September 23rd, 2006, believing he had successfully refuelled. He believed he had taken on 302 litres of fuel earlier and thought his fuel gauge was faulty as it had risen only to 20 per cent.
The investigation found the gauge was working and there had been no leak. It could find no explanation for the missing fuel.
It notes that only 2 per cent of the fuel requested by the pilot - approximately 10 litres - was apparently uploaded during the hot-refuelling at the K Club "but the investigation was unable to reconcile this serious anomaly".
The report says the apparently unserviceable fuel gauge should have been a no-go item for the pilot and he should have cancelled the flight.