What happened
On June 24, 1965, an Agusta Bell 47-G, registration HB-XAV, was involved in an incident at the Bern-Belp airfield. During the takeoff phase, the pilot executed a somewhat abrupt liftoff. This sudden movement resulted in the pilot being unable to immediately compensate for lateral and rearward oscillations of the aircraft.
As the helicopter moved, the tail rotor made contact with a truck parked in the vicinity of the takeoff area. The collision resulted in damage to the Agusta Bell 47-G, assessed at approximately 10% of its value, while the damage sustained by the truck was negligible.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight dynamics during the initial climb and the positioning of ground objects near the departure path. The commission examined the sequence of the takeoff maneuver and the pilot's ability to maintain directional control following the abrupt ascent.