Accident Details
On December 20, 2012, at 1523 UTC, a Bell UH-1H helicopter, Swiss registration HB-RXC, operated by a private individual, was destroyed when it impacted terrain near Ruthi, Switzerland. The accident followed an engine malfunction. The helicopter was on a foreign, non-scheduled cross-country flight, having departed Buchs, Switzerland, and was en route to St-Gallen-Altenrhein, Switzerland. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.
The pilot and two passengers on board were not injured. A third passenger received minor injuries.
Investigation
The T53-L-13B engine from the helicopter was examined under the oversight of the National Transportation Safety Board at Honeywell Aerospace, Incorporated, in Phoenix, Arizona, on May 21-22, 2013.
This investigation is under the jurisdiction of the government of Switzerland. Further information regarding the investigation can be obtained from the Swiss Accident Investigation Board.