Safety Topics: Loss of Engine Power

A Hughes 369 HS helicopter was making a planned flight from Graunt Courts, Raynes, Essex, to Battersea Heliport. The helicopter lifted off at about 0955 hous and the initial climb trajectory appeared slightly shallower than normal, but nothing else unusual was reported. At about 0955:40 hrs, the helicopter called Stansted Approach and was told to standby. At 0955:42.4 hrs a primary radar return on Debden Radar was recorded, about ½nm to the south‐west of Graunt Courts; the first SSR contact was at 0955:48.6 hrs but, as Mode C had not been selected on the helicopter's equipment, no altitude information was available. Analysis of radar contacts recorded between this time and 0956:13.3 hrs indicated a track of about 230° (M) and a ground speed of approximately 90kt.