Incident
On 16 June 2020 at 15:30 local time, an Airbus Helicopters AS 350 B3 (registration HB-ZNZ) operating under visual flight rules (VFR) as an aerial work flight collided with a 16 kV power line. The incident occurred in Fontane, municipality of Vergeletto (TI), Switzerland. According to the Swiss Safety Investigation Service (SISI) preliminary report, the collision happened while the helicopter was lifting the load cable.
Aircraft and Operator
The helicopter, an Airbus Helicopters AS 350 B3 registered as HB-ZNZ, was owned and operated by Tarmac Aviation SA, based at Aeroporto in Agno. The flight crew consisted of one pilot and one flight assistant. No passengers or third parties were involved.
Flight Details
The flight was categorized as aerial work and conducted under VFR. Both departure and destination were Fontane, Vergeletto. There were no other crew members or passengers on board.
Damage
The helicopter sustained serious damage. The 16 kV electrical power line was severed. No injuries were reported in the preliminary report.
Investigation
The SISI has opened an investigation and published a preliminary report on 23 June 2020. The report provides a provisional summary of the accident dynamics without claiming completeness.