Helicopter crashed into lamppost in yellow line mishap

Procedures at an airport have been changed after a helicopter was seriously damaged in an accident.

The aircraft crashed into a lamppost at Norwich Airport and all of its rotors were damaged. There were no injuries.

An investigation has found the pilot mistook the yellow perimeter line for a taxiway line.

Pilots unfamiliar with the airport will now have an aviation marshaller to help them park.

The accident happened on 13 November 2023 and a report has now been published, external by the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB).

The helicopter involved was a 2012-built AgustaWestland AW139 with two people on board.

The AAIB said it had returned from a test flight and was taxiing to a parking stand at the airport.

It was heading to the only vacant stand which was the closest to the airport's perimeter fence.

The 35-year-old pilot told the AAIB he had followed the line markings on the ground to align his helicopter with others parked nearby.

As it turned, the rotors of the AW139 hit a lamppost and the tips of all five rotor blades were damaged.

The pilot said he believed following the line markings would give him clearance from obstacles.

The AAIB reported that small items of debris were left over a wide area and the lamppost was also damaged but no-one was injured.

Investigators concluded that the pilot had mistaken the yellow perimeter line for a taxiway line as both were painted yellow.

The AAIB said new line markings were being provided at the airport and pilots unfamiliar with the airport would have a marshaller to help them park.

Stands were also being resized to accommodate different sizes of helicopter.

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