What happened
During a flight from Tullinge to Åre Östersund Airport, a pilot attempted to land a helicopter at a designated takeoff and final approach area (FATO) before proceeding to a nearby hangar. Following instructions from ground personnel, the pilot attempted to touch down in front of a hangar. The landing surface at this location featured a 4-degree incline toward the hangar, and the aircraft was positioned such that the left side was lower than the right.
Upon initial contact with the ground, the helicopter began to bounce uncontrollably between its skids. In an attempt to abort the landing, the pilot applied a sudden and significant increase in collective lever displacement. This action, combined with a low nose position, caused the aircraft to lift off into an uncontrolled state. The helicopter rotated approximately two full turns counter-clockwise before striking the ground, with the impact occurring first on the tail rotor and subsequently on the main rotor blades. Following the impact, the aircraft remained upright on its skids. A fire ignited in the engine compartment but was extinguished by personnel from a nearby helicopter operator. The pilot was evacuated and transported to a hospital via ambulance.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft and its power plant, finding that all mechanical systems functioned according to design until the moment of impact. The investigation focused on the landing dynamics, noting that the pilot was attempting to land on a rigid, sloping surface while maintaining a hovering position that was tilted in the opposite direction of the slope. The analysis determined that the pilot failed to properly unload the aircraft or maintain a stable hover during the contact phase, leading to an overcompensation of steering inputs that exacerbated the instability.
Findings
The primary cause of the accident was that the difficulty of the landing, created by the combination of a hard, sloping surface and the pilot's specific level of flight proficiency and experience with this helicopter type, exceeded the pilot's ability to maintain control. The investigation found that the decision to abort the landing was made when control was already being lost, and the subsequent large collective input, without corresponding pedal corrections, led to the loss of control.
Safety action
While the airport's emergency response was generally effective, the investigation noted that the first firefighting vehicle took a relatively long time to reach the site due to the layout of the rescue routes, which require low speeds through sharp turns. Although the response time met requirements for non-commercial traffic, the SHK noted that services must be capable of meeting commercial standards.
As a result of the findings, the Swedish Transport Agency has been recommended to evaluate its oversight process for airports and to ensure that Åre Östersund Airport maintains compliance with regulations regarding rescue and emergency service preparedness.