What happened
On October 15, 2022, at Noto Airport, a Bell 206B helicopter, registration JA6113, operated by JANET CORPORATION, performed a takeoff from a runway that was still occupied by another aircraft. The helicopter was conducting scheduled sightseeing flights as part of an air festival.
Prior to the incident, a Textron Aviation B300C, registration JA871B, operated by the Japan Coast Guard, had landed on Runway 07. After landing, the B300C continued taxiing toward the turn pad on Runway 25. During this period, the flight information officer at Noto Radio informed the helicopter that the runway was clear. Relying on this information, the pilot of JA6113 entered the runway and initiated a takeoff climb.
As the helicopter climbed, the pilot of the Japan Coast Guard aircraft observed the helicopter on the runway ahead and halted their taxiing. The helicopter pilot eventually recognized the B300C approximately 800 meters ahead during the climb. To avoid a direct heading conflict, the helicopter pilot adjusted the flight path to the left, eventually passing safely over the runway and landing later on the same runway.
The investigation
The Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) examined radio communications, airport surveillance equipment, and pilot statements. The investigation focused on the coordination between the aircraft and the Aerodrome Flight Information Service (AFIS) provided by the Osaka Airport Office. Investigators reviewed the workload of the Noto Radio staff and the visual verification procedures used by both the helicopter crew and the air traffic service officers.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was that the Bell 206B took off while the B300C had not yet vacated the runway.
- The helicopter pilot failed to perform a complete visual inspection of the runway due to a desire to maintain the sightseeing flight schedule and an assumption that the runway was empty.
- The Noto Radio officer provided a "RUNWAY IS CLEAR" instruction without verifying that the Japan Coast Guard aircraft had actually exited the runway, likely due to an increased workload and the oversight of the B300C's presence.