What happened
On July 20, 2018, at approximately 06:33 UTC, an Aerospatiale AS350B helicopter was involved in an accident at the Wolfsberg aerodrome (LOKW) in Carinthia, Austria. The pilot had arrived from Al Casale bei Caorle, Italy, with the intention of refueling the aircraft with JET A-1 for a subsequent flight to Italy.
After initially landing on a designated parking area, the pilot attempted to move the aircraft closer to a fuel station because the length of the refueling hose was insufficient to reach the initial parking position. During this maneuver, while performing a roll flight in a hover, the helicopter's main rotor blades struck the ground. The impact caused significant damage to the aircraft, resulting in its destruction. The pilot sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
The Austrian Federal Safety Investigation Board (SUB) conducted an investigation into the event, examining the flight sequence, the aircraft's condition, and the environmental factors at the aerodrome. The investigation focused on the pilot's attempt to reposition the aircraft and the aerodynamic phenomena occurring during the low-level flight phase. The SUB also reviewed the aircraft's maintenance records, weight and balance, and the availability of ground services at the time of the accident.