What happened
On November 6, 2023, at 11:20 UTC, a Eurocopter AS-350-B3 helicopter, registered LQ-BFB, was conducting a general aviation personnel transport flight near Las Heras, Mendoza. The aircraft was operating in Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) on a flight path originating from and returning to Horcones Parque Aconcagua.
During the approach phase of the flight, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of lift. This aerodynamic instability led to an uncontrolled descent or escape maneuver. While the aircraft remained intact, the incident resulted in physical damage to the helicopter's components.
The investigation
Following the event, an inspection of the aircraft was conducted to assess the extent of the damage. The investigation established that the impact occurred specifically on the tail rotor skid and caused damage to the tail rotor blades. There were no injuries reported among the two occupants on board during the occurrence.
Findings
- The aircraft suffered damage to the tail rotor blades and the tail rotor skid.
- The incident occurred during the approach phase of flight.
- The flight was categorized as a loss of control in-flight (LOC-I) due to a loss of lift.