Aircraft and Crew
The accident involved a Robinson R22 Beta II helicopter registered as HB-ZOF, owned and operated by Valair AG of Balzers, Liechtenstein. At the time of the accident, the helicopter was being used for training.
The flight instructor, a Swiss national born in 1974, held a Commercial Pilot Licence for helicopters (CPL(H)) issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. He had accumulated 1,221 hours and 10 minutes of total flight time, including 124 hours and 18 minutes on the accident type. In the 90 days prior to the accident, he had flown 154 hours and 41 minutes, with 26 hours and 45 minutes on type.
The student pilot, a Swiss national born in 1977, held a Private Pilot Licence for helicopters (PPL(H)) also issued by EASA. He had 508 hours and 40 minutes of total flight time, with 201 hours and 45 minutes on the accident type. In the 90 days before the accident, he had flown 8 hours and 13 minutes, of which 5 hours and 47 minutes were on type.
Flight Preparation
The training flight was part of the student's preparation for a mountain flying rating (MOU). The student did not have a valid type rating for the Robinson R22 at the time but had previously flown the type regularly, primarily abroad. He normally flew the four-seat Robinson R44 Raven II, on which he intended to take the mountain rating examination. Several training flights had been conducted on the R22 for cost reasons; three such flights had taken place in October and November 2022 with the same instructor.
On 12 November 2022, around 08:00 LT, the instructor and student met at the Valair AG base at Heliport Balzers. Weather and forecasts were studied, noting a high pressure of 1033 hPa and temperatures approximately ISA +8 °C (about 8 °C above standard). The instructor used a smartphone application to calculate weight and balance and performance. He assumed his own weight at 84 kg and the student's at 90 kg (the student later stated his actual weight was 95 kg). For departure from Balzers, with a planned fuel load of 16.7 US gallons (about 63 liters, 56% of usable tank volume), the maximum takeoff mass of 1,370 lb (about 621 kg) was reached. Performance calculations indicated that hover out of ground effect (HOGE) was possible at 3,600 ft with an assumed temperature of 7.9 °C and pressure 30.51 inHg. A second calculation for after 30 minutes of flight, with 12.2 US gallons remaining, gave a mass of 1,343 lb (about 609 kg) and showed HOGE capability at 6,500 ft with an assumed temperature of 10 °C, with a small margin. The instructor stated this temperature was a worst-case assumption for added reserve.
The lesson plan aimed to practice reconnaissance and approach procedures for mountain landing sites. The student was to perform systematic procedures including radio calls, high and low reconnaissance circuits, and dummy approaches. The plan was to first train on lower landing sites near Regitzerspitz, then move to higher sites as had been done on previous flights. The helicopter was fueled to about 60% of usable tank capacity (approximately 67 liters). The crew did not wear helmets.
Accident Sequence
The helicopter departed Heliport Balzers around 08:40 LT. At that time, Balzers was under a low stratus cloud deck. The crew proceeded to the Regitzerspitz area and conducted training approaches to landing sites below 1,100 m (about 3,600 ft), familiar from earlier flights. After each landing, a short debrief was held at reduced engine speed, followed by two or three more approaches per site. The crew then flew toward the Jeninser Alp area, where the accident later occurred. They conducted training approaches to a landing site at about 5,500 ft.
Subsequently, the instructor showed the student a landing site at Vorder Alp, which the instructor knew from previous training flights. The student had never been to this site. The site was a small flat area at 1,890 m (about 6,200 ft) on a steep (approximately 45°) south-facing slope. The student began the prescribed procedures, performing two reconnaissance circuits. He then approached the site from roughly northeast (left as viewed from the south) at a shallow angle. The crew estimated wind from the south (from Landquart) at less than 10 knots. During the approach, the helicopter lost control and was destroyed. Both occupants were uninjured. The accident occurred at 09:22 LT in the start and climb phase of flight. The investigation identified the accident type as loss of control.