What happened
On January 25, 2021, at approximately 11:20 local time, a Robinson R44 II helicopter, registered as HB-ZSA, was conducting a check flight under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). The aircraft, operated by Valair AG, departed from the Balzers Heliport (LSXB) with a flight instructor and a student pilot on board. Shortly after takeoff, the helicopter struck the terrain in the vicinity of Sevelen, Switzerland. The impact caused the aircraft to tip onto its left side, resulting in heavy damage to the helicopter and minor damage to nearby property.
The investigation
The Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (SUST) initiated an inquiry into the incident. The investigation focused on the flight sequence following the departure from Balzers and the circumstances leading to the hard impact with the ground in the Sevelen area.