Final report after Kiruna accident
Jun 11, 2014
The Swedish Accident Investigation Board (Statens Haverikommission, SHK) has published its final report following an accident that occurred north of Kiruna on 26 September 2013.
The aircraft, a Swedish Eurocopter EC 120B Colibri with the registration SE-JHH, was engaged in a reindeer herding approximately 85 km north of Kiruna when the customer expressed the need to airlift a broken quad bike to a small village nearby. The helicopter took off with the quad attached to a 12-meter sling below. The power was deemed sufficient. Following the lift-off the aircraft soon turned downwind and started to settle, resulting in the load impacting the ground. The quad was dragged a short time as the pilot flared to cushion the landing, but the flare did not prevent the helicopter from hitting the ground. The aircraft ended up resting on its right side. All three people onboard, the pilot and two crewmembers, and a dog managed to evacuate the wreckage without any serious injuries.
The SHK concludes that the difficulties involved in the mission were underestimated, which is believed to have laid ground for the accident. The Board further concludes that a misinterpretation of the wind direction and the local inclination might have contributed to the mishap. SHK recommends the Swedish Transport Agency to ensure that national aerial work operators will add hands-on training in emergency cargo release techniques to its training programs.