Accident Overview
On 16 July 2019, a Bell Helicopter Textron Model 407 helicopter, serial number 53076, was involved in an accident at Aeródromo Los Confines (SCGO) in Angol, Araucanía Region, Chile. The private helicopter pilot was operating the aircraft with two passengers on board. The flight originated from Lago Rupanco with the intention of refueling with Jet A-1 at the aerodrome.
Flight Sequence
Approaching the aerodrome, the pilot communicated with the fuel attendant to coordinate refueling. At approximately 13:10 local time, the pilot approached the beginning of runway 36, executed a right turn, and hover-taxied along the taxiway to the Club Aéreo apron. Wind was from the north, so the pilot turned left to face into the wind. Subsequently, the pilot began a right lateral displacement, passing over the usual fuel loading area and deciding to land on another platform near a Jet A-1 fuel tank. During the descent, the tail rotor blades struck a steel channel installed on the ground. The aircraft experienced vibrations, and the pilot immediately landed to the left side.
Damage
The helicopter sustained damage to the tail rotor blades, right vertical stabilizer, and the upper left engine cowling. The fuselage was also damaged. The steel channel suffered material loss on its upper portion; witnesses reported it was originally 80 to 90 cm high, but later measured 50 cm high, 5 cm wide, and 12.5 cm long, painted black.
Injuries
The pilot and both passengers were uninjured. The safety belts had no abnormalities.
Pilot Information
The pilot was a 58-year-old Chilean national holding a private helicopter license with type ratings for A109, Bell 206/206L, R22, and Bell 407. His medical certificate was valid. He had accumulated 941:24 total flight hours, including 407:00 hours on the Bell 407. In the 30 days preceding the accident, he flew 04:24 hours.
Witness Statement
A witness, the fuel attendant at the Club Aéreo, reported that the same helicopter had refueled three days earlier, landing on the access road. On the day of the accident, he received phone calls to coordinate refueling and heard an unusual sound at 13:10.
Meteorological Information
According to a report from the Chilean Meteorological Directorate, the sky was cloudy with northwest winds at 14.4 km/h around 14:00 local time. Temperature was estimated at 15°C, and visibility exceeded 5 km. The pilot reported wind from the north.
Additional Information
The Club Aéreo stated that no internal procedures existed for helicopter refueling and that the ongoing construction work near the fuel tank had not been reported to the civil aviation authority (DGAC).