History of the Flight
On 5 December 2022, a Bell 206 B3 helicopter, registration PK-CDO, operated by PT Carpediem Aviasi Mandiri (Carpediem Air), was conducting unscheduled cargo flights from Iwot Helipad in Tanah Merah to several landing spots in the Kampung Kawe area under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) with a single pilot. A Helicopter Landing Officer (HLO) was on board due to the remote and unprepared nature of the landing spots. The helicopter departed Iwot at 1318 local time (LT) and made nine uneventful landings at Kampung Kawe. At 1434 LT, it departed from Kawe Helipad to Mining 1 (M1), the pilot's first flight to that location that day. Cargo was stored in the cargo and passenger compartment.
At 1442 LT, the helicopter landed on an unpaved road connecting houses at M1. The pilot kept the engine running and remained inside with the rotor blades turning, a procedure used during the previous flights. The pilot observed several residents about 40 meters in front of the helicopter. The HLO saw no one near the helicopter except a customer who approached the left side. While unloading cargo, the HLO heard a loud sound from the rear and saw a person lying on the ground. The customer and several residents ran away. Perceiving a security threat, the HLO directed the pilot to take off immediately. The pilot, also alert to the situation, took off. During takeoff, the BAGGAGE DOOR caution light illuminated because the HLO had not closed the baggage door. The HLO informed the pilot about the person on the ground, and the pilot decided to return to Iwot, landing at 1458 LT. After engine shutdown and tail rotor stop, the pilot and HLO inspected and found damage to the tail rotor. They later learned that the person on the ground was a local resident who had approached the helicopter intending to board; the resident struck the tail rotor blades and was fatally injured.
Injuries and Damage
A local resident was fatally injured after impact with the tail rotor blades. The tail rotor blades sustained damage.
Analysis and Findings
The investigation determined no issues with aircraft systems or weather that could have reduced visibility at the accident site. The KNKT identified that the absence of access restrictions to the landing spot and lack of monitoring of the helicopter's rear area allowed a resident, who may have been unaware of the tail rotor's rotation, to approach the helicopter.
Probable Cause
The KNKT stated the contributing factor was the absence of access restrictions to the landing spot without monitoring of movement in the helicopter's rear area, which permitted a resident to approach the helicopter.