Summary
On 31 December 2019, a privately operated Robinson R44 helicopter was involved in an accident during a landing approach to Punitz Güssing airfield (LOGG) in Austria. The helicopter departed Pinkafeld (LOGP) at approximately 11:45 UTC with a pilot and two passengers. After a flight of about 1 hour 15 minutes, the pilot reported at the “Whiskey” waypoint and then declared final approach to runway 15 at about 13:04 UTC. The airfield manager provided wind information (060/02 kt) and cleared the helicopter to land. During the final approach, the helicopter turned left and collided with the ground on agricultural land northeast of the airfield. The pilot and passengers exited the aircraft with minor injuries. The helicopter was destroyed.
Event Sequence
The pilot started the flight at 11:45 UTC from Pinkafeld. At about 13:00 UTC, he reported the “Whiskey” waypoint on the airfield frequency. At 13:04 UTC, he reported final approach to runway 15 with the landing light on, making him visible to the airfield manager. The manager provided wind and landing instructions. Shortly thereafter, the helicopter turned left and impacted the ground. The wreckage came to rest on its side. The pilot and two passengers evacuated themselves with minor injuries.
Aircraft and Crew
The helicopter was a Robinson R44, registered in the United Kingdom, privately owned. The pilot held a valid private pilot license and medical certificate. No further crew details are specified.
Weather
The wind reported at the time was from 060 degrees at 2 knots. The accident occurred in daylight conditions. No other weather details are available.
Probable Cause and Factors
The investigation determined that the accident was attributable to the helicopter being brought to the ground in a controlled manner during final approach. Probable factors were limited visibility of the landing area due to inadequate windshield de-icing and a high takeoff weight, though within the permissible limits.