What happened
On August 2, 2001, at approximately 11:15 UTC, an AS 350 B2 helicopter was performing cargo operations in the Hochschwab region. The aircraft was engaged in a series of flights between Seewiesen and Schiestlhaus, including transporting personnel and cargo.
During the return leg from Schiestlhaus to the landing site in Seewiesen, the helicopter was flying without an external load. As the aircraft passed a terrain feature near the Florhütte area, the approximately 12-meter-long external load sling, which was still attached to the aircraft, became entangled in the tail rotor. The sling wrapped around the tail rotor shaft, the control mechanisms, and the rotor blades. This entanglement caused the entire tail rotor assembly, including the vertical stabilizer, to separate from the helicopter.
Following the loss of the tail rotor, the aircraft became uncontrollable and crashed into a wooded area. The impact occurred with a significant nose-down pitch of more than 60 degrees. The pilot sustained fatal injuries, and the aircraft was a total loss.
The investigation
The investigation was reconstructed using statements from involved parties and witnesses, alongside findings from public safety services and investigators. The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the mechanical failure and the subsequent loss of control.