What happened
On January 7, 2020, an AS350 B3 helicopter, registration I-AMVV, was conducting heli-skiing operations near La Thuile, Italy. The flight originated from Colle del Piccolo S. Bernardo, transporting skiers to Monte Miravidi. After the pilot had successfully landed and disembarked an initial group of passengers, the aircraft prepared for a second trip to collect remaining passengers.
During the takeoff phase from the landing site, a ski instructor, who was acting as a task specialist, remained near the aircraft's utility basket. As the helicopter began its ascent, the instructor's sleeve became snagged on the basket's closing mechanism. The individual was lifted into the air and subsequently fell onto the French side of the mountain, resulting in one fatality upon impact.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation, conducted in coordination with the French BEA, examined the flight sequence, the aircraft's configuration, and the crew's coordination. Investigators analyzed the movement of the personnel on the ground and the pilot's ability to monitor the area around the aircraft. The investigation focused on the interaction between the pilot and the task specialist during the critical moments of departure.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the accidental entanglement of the instructor's sleeve with the utility basket.
- A lack of clearly defined roles led the pilot to assume that the task specialist had already completed the ground safety checks and that all personnel were clear of the aircraft.
- There was a failure to apply Crew Resource Management (CRM) principles, resulting in a misunderable communication between the pilot and the task specialist regarding whether it was safe to depart.
- The pilot lacked sufficient visibility of the lower left side of the aircraft, preventing the detection of the instructor's proximity to the utility basket during takeoff.
- The instructor was positioned in a blind spot, making them invisible to the pilot at the moment of departure.
Safety action
- The ANSV has recommended that EASA request Airbus Helicopters to evaluate the installation of rearview systems to provide pilots with improved visibility of the left side of the AS350.
- A recommendation was also issued to DART Aerospace to evaluate modifying the closing mechanisms of their utility baskets to remove protrusions that could pose a risk to personnel working near the aircraft.