What happened
On May 20, 2001, at 18:20 LT, a Pilatus Porter PC-6/B2-H4, registration HB-FKF, was positioned at the helicopter pad near holding point 23 at Neuchâtel airfield. The aircraft, operated by Swissboogie Parapro SA, was idling with its engine running and the side door open, as a group of six skydivers prepared for a final jump. The pilot was waiting for an approaching aircraft to complete its landing sequence.
During the approach, the pilot observed the incoming aircraft performing a go-around with an unstable flight attitude, characterized by a high pitch and a deviating heading that threatened a collision with the HB-FKHD. As the pilot maneuvered the Pilatus Porter PC-6/B2-H4 to avoid the oncoming plane, a parachute instructor on board, also observing the danger, ordered the skydivers to evacuate the aircraft immediately.
As the passengers exited, the aircraft began to taxi. Two of the exiting skydivers struck the horizontal stabilizer of the aircraft. One individual sustained one serious injury, while another suffered one minor injury. The impact caused damage to the horizontal stabilizer, including bent edges and sheared attachment rivets.
The investigation
SUST examined the sequence of events, noting that the high engine noise and the pilot's use of a headset prevented him from hearing the evacuation order. The investigation also focused on the unidentified aircraft involved in the near-miss. While witnesses described a light-colored, low-wing, single-engine fixed-gear aircraft, its registration could not be determined through radar data, radio recordings, or inquiries with local airfield managers.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was that the skydivers exited the aircraft following the instructor's command due to an emerging dangerous situation without notifying the pilot.
- The pilot was unaware of the evacuation because the engine noise and his headset muffled the instructor's commands.
- The passenger seated next to the pilot was facing forward and engaged in conversation, preventing him from noticing the evacuation occurring behind him.
- The impact with the horizontal stabilizer was caused by the momentum of the exiting passengers as the aircraft began to move.