History of the Flight
On Tuesday 1 November 2022, at 1036 hrs, an Airbus Helicopters AS 350 B3, registration LN-OBP, operated by Midtnorsk Helikopterservice AS (MNHS), crashed in Forbregdsmyra, Verdal, Trøndelag County. The accident occurred approximately 450 meters from the take-off helipad, about 10–20 seconds after take-off. The commander was to transport two passengers, a dog, and luggage from the operating base in Verdal to Gaundalen mountain farm in Skjækerfjella, Snåsa municipality. Two days earlier, the commander had aborted a similar flight due to fog in the mountains; no attempt was made the day before due to fog in Verdal.
Two other pilots from the same operator had taken off about two hours before the accident. The morning fog varied in density; both pilots waited for an opening to take off. Similarly, the commander of LN-OBP waited until he perceived an opening before taking off. The commander was alone in evaluating the situation, which is normal for the inland helicopter segment.
Injuries and Damage
The commander sustained serious injuries. The two passengers sustained fatal injuries. The helicopter was destroyed. No other damage was reported.
Aircraft and Operator Information
The helicopter was an Airbus Helicopters AS 350 B3, registered LN-OBP, owned and operated by Midtnorsk Helikopterservice AS. The operator held an Air Operators Certificate (AOC) issued by the Civil Aviation Authority Norway (CAA Norway). The commander held several positions within the company, including active pilot and main shareholder, in addition to roles required for AOC compliance.
Meteorological Information
The accident occurred in fog. The commander lost visual references shortly after takeoff. The two other pilots also encountered fog but waited for an opening. No further meteorological details are specified in the source.
Accident Site and Wreckage
The accident site was at Forbregdsmyra, Verdal, coordinates 63.798601N 11.542992E. The helicopter impacted terrain close to the helipad. The wreckage was examined on-site.
Seatbelt and Luggage Findings
A failure of the rotary buckle, combined with incorrect seatbelt use, and a large amount of unsecured luggage next to the rear passenger contributed to both passengers ending up outside the helicopter and sustaining fatal injuries.
Organisational and Oversight Issues
The investigation found that the company's operational control was deficient, related in part to the approved organisational structure where the commander held multiple roles. The NSIA notes that when CAA Norway approves such structures, it should be aware of potential reduced safety margins. The investigation indicates that CAA Norway has challenges performing risk-based oversight of the inland helicopter segment, leading to one safety recommendation.
Conclusion
The accident happened after the commander lost visual references in fog. The seatbelt failure and unsecured luggage contributed to the fatal outcome for the passengers. The investigation issued a safety recommendation concerning oversight of the inland helicopter segment.