Accident Overview
On 27 April 2013, at approximately 09:05 local time, a Eurocopter AS 350 B3 helicopter, registration LN-OVO, operated by Fonnafly AS, was involved in an accident at Røldal skisenter in Håradalen, Odda, Hordaland, Norway. The helicopter was performing a commercial passenger transport flight in connection with the Røldal Freeride Challenge 2013. On board were the pilot and four passengers. The flight was conducted in visual meteorological conditions with clear skies and windless weather, temperature around +5°C.
Flight History
The helicopter had been parked overnight near Hordatun Hotel. The pilot and passengers met shortly before 09:00. The passengers included three safety personnel seated in the rear bench, and a front-seat passenger who acted as a helper for loading and unloading. All occupants wore headsets connected to the intercom system. Sports equipment was distributed between the cargo compartment and an external basket; skis were placed on the cabin floor, protruding through the left sliding door, which was locked open.
The helicopter departed just after 09:00 and flew directly toward Røldal skisenter. Upon reaching the parking area, the pilot performed a gentle roll maneuver to wave to acquaintances. The flight continued climbing up Håradalen along a ski slope at an estimated speed of 60–70 knots. Video footage showed altitude below 500 feet and decreasing. While in the valley near Killestadnuten, altitude was approximately 100–200 feet. The helicopter flew parallel to a power line on its right side.
Accident Maneuver
The pilot decided to perform a 360-degree reconnaissance turn to inspect the ground area where he intended to land later. He initiated the turn by pulling the nose up sharply, causing a rapid climb and speed reduction. At the top of the maneuver, the nose turned left, and the helicopter descended steeply, increasing speed while in a left turn. The pilot later stated that he impulsively made the maneuver more aggressive than a standard 360-degree turn. Near the end of the turn, he noticed the power line in his peripheral vision and feared a collision, tightening the turn further. He applied maximum engine torque to reduce turn radius and sink rate, but could not arrest the descent. The helicopter struck the ground on its original heading, nearly level with a slight left bank.
Post-Accident
The tail boom was severed by the main rotor blades, which struck the ground and broke. The wreckage came to rest on its side, about 40 meters from the power line. All five occupants evacuated without assistance. The engine did not stop immediately, causing momentary confusion. No serious injuries occurred; the front left passenger sustained a cut on the leg requiring stitches. The pilot, wearing a helmet, used only the lap belt (not the shoulder harness, as recommended by company procedures) and sustained minor scratches. An eyewitness and a doctor arrived quickly. The helicopter's emergency locator transmitter activated automatically but was manually turned off by the pilot; the main rescue center later reported no signal was received.
Investigation Findings
The pilot's description of the events was consistent with video recordings obtained by the Accident Investigation Board (SHT). The pilot reported no technical malfunctions, though he thought the engine sound might have been unusual at one point. He did not believe vortex ring state or servo transparency occurred. Alcohol breath tests administered by police about 1.5 hours after the accident indicated a level exceeding legal limits; a subsequent blood sample was lost before analysis.