What happened
On July 4, 2023, at approximately 07:45, an Airbus Helicopters H125 (registration HB-ZPB) was performing a work flight under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). The aircraft, operated by Air Zermatt AG, departed from the Zermatt Heliport (LSEZ) and was approaching Colle Gnifetti in the Valais region from a western direction.
During the approach, the helicopter experienced a sudden descent and struck a hard layer of snow. The impact caused the aircraft to capsize, eventually coming to rest on its right side. Despite the severity of the impact, there were no injuries to the pilot, the flight assistant, or the three passengers on board.
The investigation
The Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (SUST) initiated an investigation into the occurrence. The preliminary investigation focused on the flight path, the environmental conditions at the time of the impact, and the mechanical state of the aircraft. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was destroyed in the accident, though no third-party property damage was reported.