Synopsis
On 30 June 2006 at 13:31 local time, a Eurocopter France / Aérospatiale SA315B Lama helicopter, registration HB-XUA, operated by Heli Bernina AG, was involved in an accident at Rüggen, Klosters/GR, approximately 40 km north-northeast of St. Moritz, Switzerland. The helicopter was supporting a Kaman K-1200 (K-Max) helicopter in avalanche protection construction. During a hover a few centimeters above the ground, the helicopter pitched forward as the last of three flight assistants was boarding, causing the main rotor to strike the slope. The helicopter rolled onto its left side and came to rest several meters away.
Injuries and Damage
The pilot, one flight assistant, and one passenger sustained minor injuries; the other passengers were uninjured. The helicopter was seriously damaged. Ground damage was minor.
Flight History
The pilot began the duty day at approximately 08:00, conducting about 30 rotations for five different clients in the Bergell region. After a midday break, the helicopter landed at Rüggen at 13:25. The plan was to transport small material. The pilot first picked up two flight assistants at 'Hohliecht', dropping one off. Then he flew to a steep slope where three flight assistants from the K-Max operator waited. The pilot approached in a descent with a 180° turn and entered a hover 20–30 cm above the ground, with the left skid not touching the slope. The flight assistant in the left front seat opened the door, and the three assistants boarded one by one, sitting on the floor in the rear. As the last person boarded, the helicopter pitched forward and the main rotor struck the slope. The pilot reduced collective and pulled cyclic, but the helicopter touched down with skids, tipped backward, and came to rest on its left side. Two assistants were ejected; the others exited unaided.
Aircraft and Crew Information
The helicopter was a single-engine, five-seat turbine helicopter with a three-blade main rotor and three-blade tail rotor, serial number 2595, built in 1980. Its last 100-hour inspection was on 28 June 2006. The pilot held a Swiss CPL(H) since 1982, with 7671 total flight hours, 2500 hours on type, and 73:56 hours in the last 90 days. The flight assistant was a Swiss citizen born in 1982. The three passengers were Swiss citizens born in 1977, 1981, and 1985.
Probable Cause
The accident is due to the fact that the main rotor of the helicopter collided with the slope, because passengers were embarked in an inappropriate place.