On July 12, 2022, an AIRBUS HELICOPTERS AS 350 B3 (registration HB-ZVY) was involved in an aviation accident near Matenc sopra Faido, TI, CH. This summary draws on records from the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (STSB / SUST).
On July 13, 2022, an Airbus Helicopters AS 350 B3e (HB-ZVY) was involved in an incident at Matenc, Faido, Switzerland. A flight assistant suffered a severe electric shock while handling a sling load near a live power line.
Incident Overview and Context On July 13, 2022, at approximately 14:00 local time, an Airbus Helicopters AS 350 B3e, registration HB-ZVY, was conducting a visual flight rules (VFR) aerial work operation at Matenc in the municipality of Faido, Ticino, Switzerland. The aircraft was operated by Tarmac Aviation SA and owned by European Helicopter Holding SA. The mission involved external load operations for timber extraction near a live electrical power line. The pilot, a Swiss national born in 1990, held a commercial helicopter pilot license issued by the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (UFAC) under EASA rules. The aircraft sustained no damage, and no third parties were injured. ## Operational Sequence and Event The flight crew and ground personnel, including three Task Specialist Operators (TSOPs), conducted a pre-flight briefing after the pilot landed and shut down the helicopter. Documentation reviewed during the briefing confirmed that the nearby power line was energized. Based on a prior reconnaissance flight and the briefing, the pilot selected a 38-meter timber transport sling, as the logs were located more than 20 meters from the outermost conductor. The sling was attached to the helicopter's primary hook and featured a secondary hook at its lower end, integrated into a protective steel frame. During the initial approach to the loading point, the pilot maintained a minimum distance of 20 meters from the conductors, accounting for thermal updrafts from the south and the valley. However, the pilot perceived the distance to the conductors as uncomfortably close and did not see the ground reference marks. Consequently, the pilot requested a 50-meter sling for a second rotation. ## Electric Shock and Aftermath While approaching for the first load attachment, the pilot followed instructions from TSOP A, who was using a grounding hook to pull the secondary hook. At this moment, the pilot heard a static discharge noise on the FM radio frequency and observed that TSOP A was holding the radio transmit button without communicating. TSOP A reported a distinct electric discharge noise upon contact between the grounding hook and the secondary hook. TSOP A could not recall if he had released the grounding hook before grabbing the secondary hook. Upon contact between his gloved hand and the metal hook, his fingers contracted around the metal part, preventing voluntary release. The pilot, recognizing the situation, immediately lifted the hook and TSOP A by approximately one meter. TSOP A then released the hook, which fell to the ground. The mission was immediately interrupted, and the helicopter was repositioned to the unloading area, where TSOP A arrived on foot. TSOP A reported being stunned for several minutes following a strong electric shock and experienced an unusual heartbeat, described as palpitations. The pilot assessed TSOP A's condition, noting significant fatigue and intense thirst. Despite this, TSOP A initially believed his work capacity was not compromised. The pilot decided to terminate work at this site, and the entire aerial operator team was dispatched to a new mission of approximately 90 minutes at another site near Faido. After completing the second mission, TSOP A returned the company van to the Locarno-Magadino cantonal airport (LSZL) around 16:00 and ended his workday. He told a colleague he felt tired and complained of arm pain. Due to persistent symptoms, he went to the hospital, where he was examined and hospitalized under observation for two days. The incident was reported to the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (SISI) by the power line operator via ESTI on December 19, 2022, and by the operator to the UFAC via ECCAIRS on July 14, 2022.