What happened
On February 8, 2008, at approximately 08:30 UTC, a Bell 206B helicopter was conducting a flight under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) in the Totes Gebirge region of Styria, Austria. While flying near the Henaralm, the aircraft collided with the support cable of the "Appelhaus" material cableway. The impact occurred at an altitude of approximately 5,383 feet MSL. Following the collision, the helicopter crashed at an elevation of approximately 5,125 feet MSL. The impact resulted in the destruction of the aircraft and two fatalities, as both occupants of the helicopter died in the accident.
The investigation
The Austrian Federal Safety Investigation Board (SUB) initiated an investigation after being notified by the Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) regarding the missing aircraft and the damage to the cableway'-s support cable. The investigation focused on the flight path, the visibility of the obstacle, and the technical state of the aircraft. Investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance records, weight and balance, and the meteorological conditions at the time of the flight. The investigation also reviewed the aeronautical charts to determine how the cableway was identified as an unlit obstacle.