What happened
On July 31, 2015, an Eurocopter AS350 B3, registration I-CMCM, crashed into a rocky wall at an altitude of 3,100 meters near Cima di Zocca di Valmasino, Italy. The aircraft was performing an aerial work mission, specifically a positioning flight for subsequent passenger transport, traveling from Passo Marinelli to Val Codera under Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
During the flight, the helicopter struck a granite face near the ridge connecting Cima di．Zocca to the Zocca pass. The impact was a high-energy, primarily frontal collision that resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. The pilot and two technicians on board sustained fatal injuries and died instantly.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation examined the aircraft wreckage, engine components, and meteorological data. Technical analysis of the Turbomeca Arriel 2B1 engine confirmed that the engine was producing power at the moment of impact, evidenced by a 0.9 mm misalignment in the drive shaft lines and the fact that the electronic control unit (DECU) showed no fuel supply failures. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's flight records, the operator's operational manual, and witness testimonies from hikers in the area.
Witnesses reported seeing a light-colored helicopter flying through fog and clouds in the hour preceding the crash. Meteorological data confirmed that visibility was rapidly deteriorating, with cloud cover (BKN/SCT) present at altitudes below the accident site, effectively obscuring the mountain peaks.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT), triggered by the rapid deterioration of weather conditions.
- The pilot failed to maintain situational awareness as the flight transitioned from VFR to Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) without the necessary instrument rating, which had expired in May 2015.
- The pilot's decision to continue the flight was influenced by excessive confidence in his ability to manage the deteriorating weather and a desire to recover time lost due to previous delays in the daily schedule (often referred to as "get-there-itis").
- The operator's flight schedule was under pressure, as the pilot attempted to compensate for delays, contributing to the decision-making process.