What happened
On June 25, 2023, a Robinson R44 helicopter, registration LN-OSS, was performing a scheduled flight from Mandal to Jessheim with a planned stop in Trollnes to collect a passenger. During the approach to the landing site, which was a paved area typically used as a car park, the pilot encountered a slight crosswind.
As the helicopter descended toward the edge of the tarmac, the pilot misjudged the aircraft's position relative to the boundary of the landing zone. When the skids made contact with the ground, the weight of the aircraft shifted toward a steep slope at the rear of the site. This caused the helicopter to tip backward and strike rocks along the shoreline. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the Robinson R44. Both the pilot and the passenger escaped the wreckage with minor injuries.
The investigation
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority (NSIA) examined video footage from both a ground witness and an onboard camera, which provided a clear view of the sequence of events. The investigation focused on the suitability of the landing site, the pilot's experience, and the safety measures in place during the flight.
Investigators noted that the pilot had inspected the site from the ground prior to landing but had never performed a landing there before. The investigation also reviewed the survival aspects of the crash, noting that while the aircraft's crash-resistant fuel tanks prevented a post-crash fire, several safety protocols were absent during the operation.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a miscalculation of the helicopter's position relative to the edge of the landing area, leading to a backward tip and subsequent crash.
- The landing site was deemed marginal and too demanding for a pilot with the level of experience demonstrated by the pilot in command.
- The pilot was considered to have limited experience, with approximately 321 flight hours over eight years and a lack of involvement in a formal flight operations community.
- Critical safety measures were missing: the passenger had received no safety briefing, and neither occupant was wearing a helmet or a life jacket despite the low-altitude flight over open water.
- The lack of life jackets was identified as a significant risk, as the aircraft ended up in shallow water following the impact.