Sikorsky R4-B Hoverfly KK-971 04/03/1945
Sikorsky R4-B at Rinnigill, Hoy in 1945
At 13.45 on March 4th 1945 Sikorsky R4-B Hoverfly KK971 took of from R.N.A.S Twatt for a demonstration flight off H.M.S. Puncher.
The aircraft was being flown by Sub. Lt. A.L. Grey (771 Sqdn) and landed on the deck of H.M.S. Puncher at 14.20. The helicopter then took on the Captain as a passenger and flew several circuits of the carrier preforming maneuvers showing the capabilities of the aircraft. These included hovering, backward and forward flight.
Sub. Lt. Grey then landed back on the flight deck of Puncher to drop off the Captain and pick up passenger Lt. Cdr. Godfrey R.N.V.R. and took off repeating the same maneuvers.
During a tight turn to starboard, at a height of 150 ft the engine suddenly failed and the helicopter fell into the sea.
Both the pilot and passenger escaped and the aircraft sank in 20 fathoms (36.5m). Both men were picked up, unhurt, by a passing launch 8 minutes after the crash.
The aircraft was recovered by divers and found to be intact. It was taken to Hatston for investigation.
The fuel tank was found to be crushed by the pressure of the water but examination shows the tank was half full at the time of the accident and the lack of baffles in the tank meant when a tight turn was taken the engine got no fuel into the fuel line.
The aircraft was being flown by Sub. Lt. A.L. Grey (771 Sqdn) and landed on the deck of H.M.S. Puncher at 14.20. The helicopter then took on the Captain as a passenger and flew several circuits of the carrier preforming maneuvers showing the capabilities of the aircraft. These included hovering, backward and forward flight.
Sub. Lt. Grey then landed back on the flight deck of Puncher to drop off the Captain and pick up passenger Lt. Cdr. Godfrey R.N.V.R. and took off repeating the same maneuvers.
During a tight turn to starboard, at a height of 150 ft the engine suddenly failed and the helicopter fell into the sea.
Both the pilot and passenger escaped and the aircraft sank in 20 fathoms (36.5m). Both men were picked up, unhurt, by a passing launch 8 minutes after the crash.
The aircraft was recovered by divers and found to be intact. It was taken to Hatston for investigation.
The fuel tank was found to be crushed by the pressure of the water but examination shows the tank was half full at the time of the accident and the lack of baffles in the tank meant when a tight turn was taken the engine got no fuel into the fuel line.
Taken from AVIA 5/23 The National Archives Photo: K Heath
This was reported to be the first ditching of a helicopter in Britain.
Sikorsky R4-B Hoverfly KK971 was built in Bridgeport U.S.A. and delivered to the Royal Navy on 30/061944. By 19/12/1944 it had flown 175 hours 42 minutes. The aircraft was then shipped to Scotland and flown from the ship to 771 Sqdn. on 04/02/1945. Up to the time of the accident the aircraft flew a further 13 hours 28 minutes bringing its total time of 189 hours 10 minutes.
Sub. Lt. A.L. Grey, up to the time of the accident, had 306 hours 50 minutes flying time in various aircraft and of which 54 hours 45 minutes were in helicopters.