What happened
On June 14, 2004, at approximately 14:32 local time, a Bell 206L-3 helicopter, registration HK3318, was performing a landing maneuver at a designated helipad in Vereda Juanes, San Rafael, Antioquia. During the landing phase of the operation, the aircraft's main rotor blade struck a person on the ground. The individual, a contractor employed by the company ISA, sustained fatal injuries as a result of the impact.
The investigation
The preliminary investigation conducted by the GRIAA focused on the sequence of events during the landing at the ISA tower site. The investigation established that the aircraft was operating under general aviation parameters and was in the process of touchdown when the contact occurred. Physical damage to the aircraft was noted, specifically involving the deformation of the main rotor blade tip.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the impact between the main rotor blade and a person on the ground during the landing phase.
- The incident resulted in one fatality among ground personnel.
- The aircraft sustained significant damage to the main rotor blade tip.
Safety action
- It is recommended that ground support personnel employed by contractors (specifically ISA) undergo specialized training to ensure safety during helicopter landing operations.