On June 5, 2010, an AEROSPATIALE SA 315 B (registration HB-XND) was involved in an aviation accident near Zermatt, VS, CH. No fatalities were reported. This summary draws on records from the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (STSB / SUST).
On 5 June 2010, an SA 315B Lama (HB-XND) operated by Air Zermatt AG struck a building during landing at Neue Monte Rosa Hütte, Zermatt. The pilot sustained serious injuries; the helicopter was destroyed.
Overview and Aircraft Details On 5 June 2010, a Swiss-registered SA 315B Lama helicopter, registration HB-XND, was destroyed when its main rotor struck a building during a commercial VFR landing at the Neue Monte Rosa Hütte in the municipality of Zermatt, Valais. The aircraft was owned and operated by Air Zermatt AG. The helicopter was a five-seat, skid-equipped model with a bubble window and a Siren load hook, manufactured in 1982 with serial number 2624. It was powered by a Turbomeca Artouste III B 1 engine and had a three-blade main rotor. At the time of the accident, the aircraft had accumulated 13,067 flight hours. Its airworthiness certificate was valid until 23 August 2010, and maintenance records showed a 400-hour inspection of the airframe and engine on 7 May 2010, a 50-hour inspection on 3 May 2010, and a daily check on the evening of 4 June 2010. The aircraft's weight and center of gravity were within prescribed limits. ## Pilot and Operational Context The pilot was a Swiss national born in 1971, holding a commercial pilot license for helicopters issued by the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (BAZL) on 20 June 2002, based on a U.S. CPL(H). His ratings included AS 350, SA 315/316/319, MOU(H), and NIT(H), valid until 23 November 2010. He held a Class 1 medical certificate valid until 28 September 2010, with a requirement to wear corrective lenses. He had 2,553 total flight hours, 113 hours in the preceding 90 days, 524 hours on the accident type, and 41 hours on that type in the preceding 90 days. The flight was a commercial VFR operation. The pilot began his shift around 08:00 local time after two days without flight duty, conducting a winch exercise with mountain guides and two transport flights, totaling about one hour of flight time with seven landings. The fourth task of the day was to fly up to 500 kg of cargo as an external load to the Neue Monte Rosa Hütte from Zermatt and then return with five passengers and various materials in the cabin. Shortly before departure, the return mission was changed: the pilot was instructed to return with four passengers and an external load instead of a cabin load. He requested to be accompanied by a flight helper, but this was denied because the hut keeper was considered experienced enough to perform that role. The cargo was to be deposited on the usual marked landing site, which the pilot knew. ## Flight Sequence and Accident At approximately 10:30 local time, the pilot flew alone from Heliport Zermatt to the cargo pickup point “Galerie,” where the helicopter hovered while a 680 kg external load was attached to a 24-meter steel cable. The flight to the Neue Monte Rosa Hütte proceeded without incident. During the approach, the pilot radioed the hut keeper to ask where the load should be placed. Instead of the usual landing site, the load was to be deposited northeast of the hut, and the hut keeper suggested landing on the terrace to pick up passengers. When asked whether known obstacles around the terrace, such as waste bins and posts, had been removed, the pilot was told this was not necessary because the hut keeper would provide guidance. The pilot agreed. The load was set down behind the hut at the warehouse entrance. The pilot then flew over the building to land on the terrace, guided first by radio and later by hand signals from the hut keeper. The hut keeper took the hook and monitored the cable being laid on the terrace floor, giving signals to descend. As the helicopter was very close to the ground, the main rotor touched the hut wall. The helicopter was thrown to the left and came to rest on its left side on the terrace. Witnesses reported that during the landing, a jacket and insulation material were blown up and skis were blown over. The hut keeper stated he grabbed the load cable to prevent it from getting under the skids; due to the downdraft, he turned aside as the helicopter’s nose was still about 50 cm from him. He then heard a bang and saw the helicopter overturned on its side. Spectators at the edge of the terrace observed the helicopter begin to wobble after a stable descent, with rotor blades touching the hut wall, before it was thrown left and struck the terrace sideways. The pilot managed to shut down the engine and open his harness before losing consciousness. The hut keeper and two hikers extracted the helmeted pilot from the cabin. Due to his injuries, he was flown by a rapidly arriving rescue team to Inselspital Bern. Rotor parts were thrown during the impact. No spectators near the terrace were injured. Fuel leaking from the turbine caused heavy smoke, but no fire broke out. ## Meteorological Conditions According to MeteoSchweiz, a high-pressure system centered over Poland dominated the weather in Switzerland, with some shallow cumulus clouds developing during the day, particularly on the south side of the Alps. Measurements from the Monte Rosa-Plattje station at 2,885 m AMSL, located near the accident site, showed at 08:30 UTC a temperature of 7°C, dew point of -5°C, wind from 140° at 1 kt with gusts to 2 kt; at 08:40 UTC, 8°C, -6°C, 140° at 2 kt with gusts to 4 kt; and at 08:50 UTC, 8°C, -7°C, 140° at 1 kt with gusts to 5 kt. At the time of the accident, conditions were clear with visibility around 40 km, a southeast wind of 1 kt with gusts to 5 kt, temperature 8°C, dew point -7°C, and QNH of 1020 hPa at LSGS and LSZA and 1021 hPa at LSZH. The sun was at azimuth 112° and elevation 50°. No hazards were identified. ## Damage and Findings The helicopter was found on its left side with severely damaged main rotor blades. The tail was bent; one tail rotor blade was separated and the other two were severely deformed. The load hook was closed. The cyclic control was removed, and the collective blade-pitch lever was pulled. The power lever was in the forward position. The fire handle was open (forward position) with its safety wire broken. The rotor brake was pulled. The pilot’s seat was fixed in the rails, the four-point harness was undamaged, and the instrument panel was intact. On the east side of the hut, rotor impact marks were visible at a height of 3.62 meters, extending over a length of 5 meters. Several windows and solar collectors were destroyed. The Neue Monte Rosa Hütte, completed in 2009, has a distinctive shape and silver aluminum cladding intended to resemble a mountain crystal. Its facade includes a photovoltaic system (84 m²) and thermal solar collectors (60.5 m²), and it has its own weather station for climate data for energy management. The hut is at 2,883 m AMSL. There are no flight obstacles in the approach area. On the west side of the hut is a flat, stone-covered heli-landing site, which was the site normally used by the operating company. ## Casualties and Damage The pilot sustained serious injuries. There were no fatalities among crew, passengers, or third parties. The helicopter was destroyed. Third-party damage included building damage and ground contamination from leaked kerosene.