What happened
On March 9, 2008, a Eurocopter AS 350B3, registration CS-HFK, operated by HeliBravo, was conducting a flight from Cascais Aerodrome (LPCS). While en route, the pilot submitted a flight plan amendment, indicating an intention to proceed to Comporta instead of the previously filed destination of Peniche.
During the flight, the Cascais air traffic controller notified the pilot that the flight plan could not be accepted by Lisbon due to an inoperative transponder on the aircraft. Consequently, the controller instructed the aircraft to return to the aerodrome. This instruction led to a verbal disagreement and an unpleasant exchange of words between the pilot in command and the Cascable tower controller.
The investigation
The GPIAAF examined the incident, which was classified as an Air Traffic Management (ATM) occurrence. The investigation focused on the communication between the flight crew and the air traffic controller regarding the flight plan and the technical status of the aircraft's equipment.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating with a non-functional transponder.
- The disagreement between the pilot and the controller involved issues of radio discipline and adherence to air traffic management procedures and rules of the air.