Incident Overview
On June 11, 2018, at approximately 13:58 local time, an Airbus Helicopters AS 350 B3 helicopter, registered as HB-ZOJ, was involved in a fatal accident. The incident occurred at Alp Ebnet in the municipality of Attinghausen, located in the canton of Uri, Switzerland. The crash site was situated approximately 6.4 kilometers east-southeast of Engelberg in the canton of Obwalden.
Operational Context
The helicopter was engaged in a commercial work flight under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). The primary objective of the mission was the transport of concrete to a construction site for the renovation of an alpine cheese factory. The aircraft was owned and operated by Lions Air Skymedia AG, based in Zurich. The pilot on duty was a Swiss national born in 1963, holding a Commercial Pilot Licence (Helicopter) issued by the Federal Office for Civil Aviation (BAZL). He possessed specific ratings for the AS 350 type, mountain flying, and external cargo sling operations.
Accident Sequence and Outcome
The accident occurred during the takeoff and climb phase. The investigation determined that the collision with terrain resulted from a loss of visual references. The helicopter was destroyed in the crash. The pilot sustained fatal injuries, resulting in one fatality among the occupants. There were no passengers on board at the time of the incident. Additionally, significant third-party damage was recorded, specifically extensive ground contamination caused by burned composite materials.
Regulatory Framework
This final report, numbered 2385, was issued by the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (STSB). The investigation was conducted in accordance with ICAO Annex 13 and relevant Swiss federal laws regarding aviation safety. The sole purpose of this inquiry is to prevent future accidents or serious incidents; it does not aim to assign blame or liability.