Robinson R44 incident near Manchester, Gb, June 13, 2016
On June 13, 2016 at about 3:47 pm local time, a Robinson R44 (helicopter), registered GBZGO, suffered minor damage in an incident near Manchester (Manchester Barton Airport). It was flown under rules the NTSB did not record. No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this incident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 2016 · about 3:47 pm local time
- Place
- Manchester, United Kingdom · Manchester Barton Airport
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- GBZGO · no longer on the register · serial 0757
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight · rules the NTSB did not record
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On June 13, 2016, at 1547 coordinated universal time, a Robinson R44, G-BZGO, sustained a bird strike to the lower left windscreen about eight miles north of Manchester Barton Airport (EGCB), Manchester, England. The helicopter sustained minor damage. No injuries to the pilot and one other occupant were reported. The flight originated from EGCB and was destined to return to EGCB. The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the government of the United Kingdom. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by or obtained from the government of the United Kingdom. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) Farnborough House Berkshire Copse Road Aldershot, Hampshire GU11 2HH, United Kingdom Telephone: +44 (0)1252 510300 Facsimile: +44 (0)1252 376999 https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/air-accidents-investigation-branch
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Birdstrike during unknown defining event
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: EGCB Manchester
- Destination: EGCB Manchester
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.