What happened
On the morning of 16 November 2013, an S76C++ helicopter, registration HL9294, crashed into a residential building in the Samseong-dong district of Seoul. The aircraft, operated by LG Electronics, was performing a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flight from Gimpo International Airport to Jamsil Heliport.
During the approach, the flight crew encountered dense fog that obscured the ground. While navigating the Hangang Corridor, the crew failed to abort the mission despite being unable to identify the terrain. Relying on GPS for navigation rather than visual references, the aircraft drifted south of its intended path. As the crew began a descent toward the heliport, the aircraft struck the north side of building 102 at a condominium complex, impacting the structure between the 23rd and 26th floors. The impact caused the aircraft to rotate and fall to the ground, resulting in two fatalities and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The ARAIB investigation focused on the decision-making process leading up to the flight and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. Investigators examined the flight crew's communication and the organizational culture of the operator. The probe also looked into the visibility conditions at Gimpo Airport, which were reported at 700 meters—below standard VFR requirements—and the status of aviation obstruction lights on the impacted building.
Investigators found that the captain had initially decided not to fly due to weather concerns but reversed this decision after a telephone conversation with company officials. Furthermore, the investigation revealed that the aviation obstruction lights on the building had been manually turned off by a manager earlier that day.