What happened
On July 10, 2015, at approximately 13:55 local time, an AS350 B3 helicopter, registration HB-ZKG, operated by Tarmac Aviation SA, was performing a commercial VFR flight from the north heliport of Locarno Cantonal Airport (LSZL) toward Brissago. During the takeoff phase, the pilot was actively monitoring heavy traffic, specifically focusing on parachutists operating near the Paracentro square and aircraft movements on runway 2..'n
As the helicopter moved northward, the pilot detected unexpected resistance during the climb. The pilot immediately halted the helicopter's movement to investigate. Upon inspection, it was discovered that a cargo line attached to the aircraft had accidentally become entangled with the tail boom of another helicopter, registration HB-ZGT, which was parked nearby.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events during the departure from the north heliport. Investigators examined the pilot's situational awareness regarding surrounding traffic and the physical interaction between the two aircraft. It was established that the entanglement occurred while the pilot was preoccupied with managing high-density traffic in the vicinity, including paragliders/parachutists and other runway operations.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the accidental entanglement of a cargo line with the tail boom of a stationary aircraft.
- The pilot's attention was divided between the takeoff maneuver and monitoring intense local traffic, including paratroopers in the Paracentro area and runway activity on 26R.
- There were no injuries to the crew or third parties, though the parked helicopter sustained damage to its tail boom.
- No damage was sustained by the aircraft HB-ZKG.