What happened
On 16 November 2013, at approximately 08:54 KST, an S76C++ helicopter, registration HL9294, crashed into a residential building in the Samseong-dong district of Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The aircraft, operated by LG Electronics, was performing a visual flight rules (VFR) approach to Jamsil Heliport to pick up corporate executives.
During the flight through the Hangang Corridor, the crew encountered dense fog that obscured the ground. While navigating via GPS, the aircraft deviated from its intended route and moved toward the north side of building 102 of Condominium A. As the crew attempted to descend toward the heliport, the aircraft struck the side of the building between the 23rd and 26th floors. The impact caused the aircraft to rotate and fall to the ground, resulting in the fatalities of both the captain and the first officer, as well as the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The ARAIB investigation examined the flight's history, weather conditions, and the decision-making process of the crew. Investigators reviewed the pilot's initial weather checks, which had originally led to a "no-go" decision that was later reversed following a telephone conversation with company officials. The board also examined the maintenance of aviation obstruction lights on the condominium and the functionality of the aircraft's navigation and warning systems.
Findings
- The flight crew continued the flight in adverse weather conditions despite being unable to identify the ground due to heavy fog.
- The crew performed a descent while unable to verify their exact location or ground clearance.
- The captain made a decision to proceed with the flight despite weather conditions failing to meet allowable limits.
- There was a significant failure in Crew Resource Management (CRM), as the first officer and the operational pilot in charge did not suggest aborting the flight despite recognizing the deteriorating weather.
- The aircraft deviated from its planned route because the crew relied on GPS for navigation during VFR operations in low visibility.
- The aviation obstruction lights on the impacted building were manually turned off by building management on the day of the accident.