Report on serious aviation incident near the Gullesfjord in Kvæfjord municipality, Troms county, on 6 September 2021 involving Airbus Helicopters AS 350 B1, LN-ORJ, operated by Heli-Team AS
Aviation report 2024/09
In connection with a power line inspection east of Gullesfjorden, a helicopter got caught in, and cut an overhead power line crossing the fjord with three power lines. The helicopter hit so that the middle power line was lifted over the next power line before it was cut by the helicopter's rotor blade. Only coincidences and the captain's handling after the collision prevented the incident from becoming a serious accident. There were four people on board, and there were no personal injuries or damage to the environment.
The NSIA is of the view that only coincidence prevented this incident from becoming a fatal accident. The way the helicopter caught the power cable and the commander’s manoeuvring after he became aware of it reduced the scope and consequences of the incident. After the helicopter’s rotor blade cut the power cable, the commander demonstrated good airmanship and performed a successful emergency landing.
The NSIA is of the opinion that inadequate preparation by the helicopter operator, planning and performance, the poor visibility of the line and the pilot’s limited experience of line inspections and high mental workload in the situation in question explain why the pilot did not become aware of the overhead power line spanning the fjord until a collision was inevitable.
Published 24.10.2024
Safety recommendation
Safety recommendation Aviation No 2024/10T
During an inspection of a power line on 6 September 2021, LN-ORJ, a helicopter from Heli-Team, cut an overhead power line cable spanning the Gullesfjord in Kvæfjord municipality. Vesterålskraft Nett AS’s overhead power line spanning the Gullesfjord had not been marked, and the company had contacted CAA Norway in 2010 to request an exemption from marking. CAA Norway concluded, without much justification, that the line spanning the fjord did not constitute an obstacle to aviation and referred, among other things, to the fact that Statnett’s line just south of it was marked. The NSIA believes that this may have been a misjudgement. The fact that only one of two lines was marked may further impair the visibility of the unmarked line by drawing attention away from it. The result may thus be an increased risk of collision.
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority recommends CAA Norway to reconsider its conclusion and consider whether the overhead power line spanning the Gullesfjord should be physically marked.
Safety recommendation Aviation No 2024/11T
During an inspection of a power line on 6 September 2021, LN-ORJ, a helicopter from Heli-Team, cut an overhead power line cable spanning the Gullesfjord in Kvæfjord municipality. The overhead power line over the Gullesfjord had been assessed by CAA Norway to determine whether it required physical marking. CAA Norway had concluded that it did not require marking and granted an exemption. The NSIA cannot rule out that other aviation obstacles may have been exempted on the same grounds, and has asked CAA Norway whether such exemptions are in place for other power lines. CAA Norway has informed the NSIA that it has reviewed decisions relating to overhead power lines with an exemption or partial exemption from the marking obligation from 2009 onwards.
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority recommends CAA Norway to follow up overhead power lines that are exempt or partially exempt from the marking obligation in order to verify that they are marked in accordance with the new Regulations on reporting, registration and marking of aviation obstacles, FOR-2014-07-15-980.
Facts
| Location | Tverrbakkhella, Kvæfjord municipality, Troms county, Norway |
| Occurrence date | 06.09.2021 |
| Aircraft | Airbus Helicopters AS 350 B1 |
| Operator | Heli-Team AS |
| Registration | LN-ORJ |
| Meteorological conditions | VMC |
| County | Troms |
| Type of occurrence | Serious incident |
| Type of operation | Commercial, other |
| Category of operation | Light, helicopter (<= 2 250kg) |
| Aircraft category | Helicopter, Single-engine, Turboprop/turboshaft |
| FIR/AOR | ENBD (Bodø ATCC) |