Accident to the helicopter AS355 registered OO-HSK and operated by Heliservice Belgium on 31/03/2017 at Sint Pieters Leeuw [Investigation led by AIB / Belgium]
Collision du rotor anti-couple avec un obstacle, lors d'une translation
Responsible entity
Preliminary data based on the notification from the authorities of Belgium :
The pilot brought the helicopter to a hover, moved laterally towards the parking spot 2, then moved to the parking spot 3. Above parking spot 3, he wanted to position the helicopter into the wind and initiated a counter-clockwise rotation.
The pilot suddenly felt that the tail hit an obstacle, the helicopter turned to the right somewhat, then violently to the left, as the tail rotor failed.
The pilot reaction was to lower the collective controls and land immediately.