What happened
On November 15, 2014, at approximately 14:26, a Diamond Aircraft Industries, Inc. DA20-C1, registration TF-FGB, was performing a landing on runway 13 at Reykjavik Airport. Simultaneously, a Eurocopter AS350 B2 helicopter, registration OY-HIT, was preparing for departure from taxiway Charlie.
The air traffic controller cleared the OY-HIT helicopter for takeoff from runway 19. However, the helicopter pilot departed from runway 01 instead. During the climb, the pilot of TF-FGB noticed the helicopter and maneuvered to the right to avoid a collision near the 13-24 runway intersection. The aircraft passed in close proximity, with vertical separation estimated between 100 and 160 feet.
A second, similar incident occurred on February 24, 2016, involving the same OY-HIT helicopter. The helicopter again departed from runway 01 despite receiving clearance for runway 19. During this event, a Textron Cessna 172S was landing on runway 13. The pilot of the Cessna observed the helicopter approaching the intersection and applied full braking, stopping approximately 50 to 100 meters before the collision point.
The investigation
The RNSA examined radio communications and conducted signal testing at the airport. The investigation established that communications between the OY-HIT helicopter and the tower were highly intermittent and fragmented during the first incident due to radio interference at hangar 3.
Testing conducted by the RNSA in the summer of 2015 confirmed that while the signal was good at the hangar, there had been a period of significant technical issues with the Isavia equipment, which has since been repaired. The investigation also noted that the helicopter operator, Blue West Helicopter, had failed to report the second incident to the RNSA, despite the legal requirement to do so for occurrences in Icelandic airspace.
Findings
- The primary cause of the first incident was the pilot of the OY-HIT helicopter failing to follow the takeoff clearance for runway 19, instead departing from runway 01.
- The pilot requested confirmation of the runway but failed to read back the specific runway number correctly.
- Radio interference and intermittent communications contributed to confusion during the initial departure sequence.
- The use of two intersecting runways simultaneously increased the risk of a collision.
- In the second incident, the helicopter pilot read back the clearance but omitted the specific runway number.
- The helicopter operator did not fulfill its obligation to report the second occurrence to the RNSA.