What happened
On April 10, 2025, at approximately 10:20 local time, a Bell Helicopter Textron Canada B505 Jet Ranger X, registered HB-ZWF, was involved in an accident at Petersgrat (LSVP). The aircraft, operated by Mountain Flyers 80 Ltd., was conducting a training flight under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). The flight originated from Bern Airport (LSZB) with a planned return to the same location. During the landing phase on the glacier, the helicopter tipped over onto its right side.
The investigation
The Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (SUST) initiated an inquiry into the event. The investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the landing maneuver on the glacier and the subsequent loss of stability. The aircraft sustained heavy damage during the incident. Among the occupants, the crew consisted of two members, one of whom sustained serious injuries while the other remained uninjured. One passenger was also on board and sustained serious injuries.
Findings
Preliminary findings indicate that the primary cause of the accident was the aircraft tipping onto its right side during the landing procedure on the glacier surface.