What happened
On 15 December 2014, an AgustaWestland AW109SP, registration A6-FLP, operated by Falcon Aviation Services, was involved in a heavy landing at the Emirates Palace Hotel Heliport in Abu Dhabi. The flight was scheduled to transport VIP passengers to various destinations in Dubai.
Prior to the incident, the helicopter had performed a short transit from a nearby secure facility to the hotel heliport. During the departure from the Emirates Palace Heliport, the crew attempted a hover taxi at approximately 10 knots, maintaining an altitude of roughly eight to ten feet above the ground. As the aircraft moved over sloping, descending terrain adjacent to the helipad, it began a vertical descent. The aircraft pitched nose-up briefly before striking the flat ground near the heliport. Following the impact, the helicopter pitched forward and rotated approximately 20 degrees to the right, eventually coming to a stop with the engines running and the lower fuselage contacting the ground. While the crew escaped without injury, there were unconfirmed reports of two minor injuries among the passengers.
The investigation
Investigators from the GCAA AAIS examined the aircraft's movement and the operational environment at the time of the accident. The investigation focused on the flight's transition from a secure heliport to the Emirates Palace Heliport and the subsequent takeoff attempt. The team reviewed the aircraft's technical condition, noting that the landing gear, tail rotor, and tail rotor boom sustained significant damage, rendering the AW109SP unserviceable.
Technical analysis included reviewing the aircraft's weight and balance, as well as the lack of specific approach and departure procedures for this particular heliport. The investigation also looked into the loading process, which was managed by security personnel rather than the flight crew, and the absence of a Heliport Landing Officer (HLO) to provide essential passenger weight information.