What happened
On August 2, 2008, a Robinson R44 II helicopter, registration HB-ZGL, operated by Valair AG, was performing a commercial VFR taxi flight for a wedding party. The mission involved picking up a couple at the 'Wirtschaft Ruggisbarg' restaurant in Wittenbach and transporting them to another location.
Upon approaching the landing site, the pilot realized they were unfamiliar with the specific area. After circling the hamlet to evaluate options, the pilot selected a landing spot in the restaurant's front garden. This location was chosen despite the tight space and proximity to a social gathering, primarily because the pilot believed the area was clear of people.
During the final approach and descent in a slow forward hover, the main rotor blades struck the branches of an orchard tree. The impact caused damage to the rotor blades, including scratches, dents, and a small crack. There were no injuries to the pilot or any third parties, and no damage was reported to other property aside from the broken tree branches.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's flight preparation, the landing site conditions, and the technical state of the aircraft. Investigators found that the pilot had not performed specific flight preparations for this particular landing site, as they believed they were already familiar with the location.
Furthermore, the investigation established that there was no ground crew or signaling person present to assist with the landing. The restaurant owner was unaware that a helicopter would be landing in the garden. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's decision-making process during the final moments of the approach, noting that the pilot's attention was focused on monitoring the crowd of guests rather than the overhead obstacles.