What happened
On March 8, 2002, a 341 GC helicopter, registration I-PJCG, landed in the Plan des Lizzes area of Courmayeur, Italy. The flight originated from Aosta with a pilot and four passengers on board. The landing site, a parking area in front of the Palazzette dello Sport, was not the location officially communicated to the aeronautical authorities.
After landing, the pilot kept the main rotor at full RPM. Because no ground support was available to assist with passenger egress, the pilot exited the aircraft to help the passengers. After assisting three passengers from the rear seats, the pilot moved toward the front to assist the passenger in the co-pilot seat. During this process, the helicopter experienced an uncontrolled ascent of approximately 10 to 15 meters. The aircraft struck a telephone cable and crashed near a residential building. The pilot attempted to re-board the aircraft during the initial phase of the uncontrolled flight but fell to the ground approximately three meters from the surface. One passenger, seated in the front left position, sustained injuries and was rescued by emergency services.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation examined the aircraft's configuration, the pilot's actions, and the landing site legality. The investigation established that the pilot chose the landing site based on convenience for the passengers rather than regulatory compliance. The investigation also noted that the pilot chose to leave the rotor spinning and failed to remove the secondary collective control, which was still installed in the co-pilot position. The wreckage showed extensive damage, including a deformed fuselage, a broken tail boom, and destroyed main rotor blades, rendering the 341 GC a total loss.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the inadvertent movement of a collective pitch control by the front passenger while repositioning themselves in the seat.
- The pilot operated the aircraft in a non-professional manner by leaving the rotor at full RPM and failing to disinstall the secondary flight controls.
- The pilot abandoned the aircraft in a dynamic operational state to assist passengers manually.
- The landing site used was not authorized for the specific location used, and the use of such an urban landing area did not meet the required safety standards regarding emergency landing area availability.
- The aircraft was in a good state of airworthiness and the weather conditions were favorable.