Summary
On 30 August 2016, at approximately 07:10 local time, a SA 315 B Lama helicopter, registered HB-XEO and operated by Air Glaciers S.A., was involved in an accident at La Médettaz, commune of Salvan, Valais, Switzerland. The helicopter was destroyed, but all three occupants—the pilot, a flight assistant, and three workers (one remained aboard during the accident)—were uninjured.
Flight Sequence
The pilot, accompanied by two flight assistants, prepared for a day of transport operations. The helicopter had been parked near Ollon overnight due to a departure restriction before 08:00 at the base in Collombey. At about 06:55, the crew departed from Ollon to Salvan. After dropping off one assistant near a pylon east of Salvan, the pilot and the remaining assistant picked up three workers in Salvan and proceeded to a drop-off point near a pylon south of Salvan. The drop-off site consisted of a small ledge with large stones on a slope of about 40 degrees. The pilot conducted a hover to avoid snagging the skids. The assistant guided the pilot via radio and began disembarking the workers. After the first two workers exited, the helicopter experienced a mass shift and deviated to the right. While repositioning, the main rotor struck the slope at a position approximately 120 degrees to the left rear of the helicopter's longitudinal axis. The helicopter became unstable, yawed and drifted right, rolled onto its right side, and came to rest about 17 meters downhill. The pilot shut down the turbine with the fire handle and was helped out of the cockpit by the assistant. No fire occurred.
Aircraft Information
The helicopter was a SA 315 B Lama, a five-seat helicopter with a three-blade fully articulated main rotor (diameter 11.02 m, height 3.09 m) and skid landing gear. It was built in 1973 by Airbus Helicopters (formerly Aérospatiale) and powered by a Turboméca Artouste III B1 engine. At the time of the accident, the fuel quantity was about 200 liters, and the mass and center of gravity were within prescribed limits.
Location and Conditions
The accident site was at an altitude of 860 m AMSL. The drop-off area was a small ledge on a slope with an inclination of about 40 degrees (84%). The dimensions of the ledge did not allow both skids to rest simultaneously, requiring the pilot to maintain a hover or one-skid support. The weather was dry with light wind (260 degrees, 1 kt), visibility 12 km, and scattered cloud layers at 5600 ft and 7200 ft AMSL. The sun was at an azimuth of 82 degrees and elevation of 4 degrees. No hazards were reported.
Damage and Aftermath
The helicopter was destroyed. The cabin was crushed on the right side with plexiglass destroyed; skids intact; tail boom and turbine in place; pilot seat rails torn from floor; seat belts and attachments held. The ELT (Kannad 406 MHz) was activated. No other property damage occurred. The pilot held a Swiss Commercial Pilot License (Helicopter) with 6696 total flight hours, including 3200 hours on type. The flight was conducted under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) as a commercial operation.