2013/22
Aviation report 2013/22
The helicopter operator Nordlandsfly used a Eurocopter SA315B Lama helicopter to perform sling load operation close to a power line in northern Norway. During lowering of a load, the main rotor collided with a traverse furthest out on a mast on the power line, and it was immediately necessary to do an emergency landing. The emergency landing was very hard and in steep terrain. The pilot in command and the passenger were seriously injured, and the helicopter destroyed. Accident Investigation Board Norway (AIBN) issues one safety recommendation in this report (see Appendix B).
Safety recommendation
Safety recommendation SL no. 2013/06T
The accident with LN-ODD has shown that the main rotor collided with the traverse on the mast and resulted to the accident. The collision would have been avoided if the flight had been flown with greater safety margins between the structure and the helicopter. Report Safety Studie On-shore Helicopter "Sikkerhetsstudie innlands helikopter" states that collisions with structures have caused many accidents. It does not exist any specific requirements or industrial standard to such a minimum safety margin.
Accident Investigation Board Norway (AIBN) recommends Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), through its leadership in Flight Safety Forum for Operators of On-shore Helicopters "Flysikkerhetsforum for operatører av innlandshelikoptre (FSF)", to establish an industrial standard regarding minimum safety distance between structures and helicopters during flight and announces this to the customers.
Facts
| Location | Haustreisdalen, Grane, Nordland |
| Occurrence date | 24.05.2011 |
| Aircraft | Eurocopter SA315 Lama |
| Registration | LN-ODD |
| Meteorological conditions | VMC |
| County | Nordland |
| Type of occurrence | Accident |
| Type of operation | Commercial, other |
| Category of operation | Heavy, helicopter (> 2 250kg) |
| Aircraft category | Helicopter, Single-engine, Turboprop/turboshaft |
| FIR/AOR | ENBD (Bodø ATCC) |