What happened
On 22 February 2021, a Bell 429 helicopter, registration SP-KKS, was performing a night tourist flight from Zagwiździe to the EPPY helipad. During the flight, the pilot encountered deteriorating weather conditions, including patches of radiation fog and mist.
The pilot made an initial approach to the landing site but aborted the attempt after a passenger noted nearby trees. During a second approach, the pilot activated the aircraft's landing light. This action caused a sudden loss of visibility due to the light reflecting off the dense fog, creating a "white out" effect. Consequently, the helicopter's main rotor blades struck tall trees before the aircraft impacted the ground and overturned.
The accident resulted in two fatalities and two serious injuries. The pilot and the front-seat passenger, who were only wearing lap belts rather than full four-point harnesses, died at the scene due to internal injuries caused by impact with the control sticks. The two passengers in the cabin survived with serious injuries.