What happened
On November 11, 2008, an AS 350 B3 helicopter, registration EC-KQI, was performing aerial observation duties near the Ibón de Miralles dam in the Huesca province of Spain. The flight, operated by Heliswiss Ibérica, was transporting three specialists to inspect various dams located at high elevations.
As the pilot approached the dam wall to land, the aircraft entered a state of hover. During this phase, the crewmember in the front left seat opened the door to assist with altitude gauging. However, due to the environmental conditions, the crewmember was unable to accurately judge the distance between the skids and the ground. As the pilot attempted to initiate a takeoff to abort the maneuver, the helicopter lost stability and rolled onto its left side. The main rotor blades struck the snow-covered surface, causing significant damage to the aircraft.
All five occupants—the pilot, a technician, and three passengers—evacuated the aircraft through the right-side door. Due to a lack of communication capabilities in the remote area, the crew began a descent on foot. The occupants were eventually located uninjured by a Civil Guard helicopter.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the loss of control during the landing approach and the activation of the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT). Investigators examined the meteorological conditions, noting that the area was covered in snow and the water surface was frozen, creating a uniform white landscape.
Regarding the ELT, the investigation revealed that the beacon transmitted incorrect identification data. This discrepancy was traced to a programming error in a