Remote Landing Site Blade Strike
The Accident Investigation Board Norway (AIBN) have released their safety investigation report (available in Norwegian only) into a serious incident to Airbus Helicopters AS350B3 LN-OWE, operated by Nord Helikopter. It occurred 24 February 2018 at Kvamsdal, Masfjorden Municipality, Norway during operations supporting the construction of a new power line.
While manoeuvring at a temporary worksite with four persons on board (the pilot, a loadmaster and two passengers), the main rotor blades came in contact with a container that was located next to the landing site.
Landing Site (Credit: Nord via AIBN)
The commander manouvered the helicopter away from the container. There were insignificant vibrations in the helicopter. The helicopter was controllable and therefore the commander decided to return to the departing site one to two minutes flight time away.
The AIBN did not concur with that decision.
After shutdown, it was found that the outermost part of all three main rotor blades was damaged.
MRB Damage Nord AS350B3 LN-OWE (Credit: Nord via AIBN)
None of the persons sustained any injuries.
The site layout had changed considerably since the pilot’s last visit there and obstacles had been sited too close.
The AIBN believes that…the commander should not have accepted the reduced safety margins, and consequently refrained from landing.
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