What happened
On August 31, 2012, an AW109SP helicopter, registration PP-LOS, operated by Aero Master Air Taxi Ltd., landed at the Iate Clube de Santos Helipad in Angra dos Reis, Brazil. The flight had originated from the Condomínio Laranjeiras Helipad in Parati.
After landing, the pilot remained in the cockpit with the engines at idle to supervise the disembarkation of three passengers. During this process, a passenger re-entered the aircraft through the front left door to provide instructions to the pilot. Simultaneously, a helipad employee approached the front of the aircraft to assist the passengers. During this movement, the employee was struck on the head by the aircraft's main rotor blades. The impact threw the employee to the ground, resulting in serious injuries. The pilot immediately shut down the engines to provide assistance. The aircraft and the passengers were unharmed.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation examined the operational environment and the movements of both the crew and ground personnel. Investigators analyzed the possibility of "blade sailing" caused by wind, but concluded this was unlikely. The investigation focused on the pilot's attention and the lack of standardized training for ground staff. It was noted that the helipad lacked safety warning signs regarding the hazards of approaching aircraft with rotors in motion. Furthermore, the investigation found that at the time of the accident, there were no specific regulations requiring training for helipad support personnel regarding aircraft approach distances.
Findings
- The pilot's attention was diverted by a passenger re-entering the cabin to communicate, which may have led to an unintentional forward cyclic input, tilting the rotor disk toward the approaching employee.
- The helipad employee lacked the necessary training to safely approach an aircraft with running engines.
- The helipad lacked adequate safety signage or warnings to prevent personnel from entering the rotor arc.
- Regulatory gaps at the time meant there was no mandatory safety training for ground support staff at this facility.