What happened
On December 18, 2021, a Bell 206 B3 helicopter, registration HK4511, was performing a non-scheduled passenger and cargo flight from Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airport to a helipad at Cerro Santa Ana, located in the municipality of Cajibío, Cauca.
During the final stages of the approach, approximately four feet above the landing site, the pilot encountered a wind gust from the right. In an attempt to correct the aircraft's position, the pilot applied left pedal and simultaneously reduced power using the collective. This maneuver caused the tail rotor to lose effectiveness, leading to a 3/6-turn yaw to the right. The pilot attempted to regain control using cyclic inputs, but the aircraft struck a retaining wall and a nearby guardhouse before impacting the ground approximately five meters from the intended touchdown point. All three occupants (the pilot and two passengers) were uninjured, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage, including structural deformation and tail rotor blade fractures.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation examined the flight planning, the pilot's performance during the emergency, and the environmental conditions at the high-altitude site (10,500 ft ASL). Investigators analyzed the aircraft's maintenance records, the engine performance, and the operational standards of the operator. The investigation also evaluated the installation of the windsock at the landing site and the pilot's ability to identify wind direction and relative wind impact during the critical approach phase.