You can contribute by submitting additional or updated information.
| Date: | Thursday 2 August 2001 |
| Time: | 13:15 |
| Type: |  Eurocopter AS 350B2 Ecureuil |
| Owner/operator: | Wucher Helicopter |
| Registration: | OE-XHB |
| MSN: | 2536 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Florlhütte, Hochschwab -
 Austria
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | External load operation |
| Departure airport: | Schiestlhaus |
| Seewiesen | |
| Investigating agency: | UUS Austria |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The AS 350B2 helicopter was used for cargo flights from Seewiesen to the Schiestlhaus in the Hochschwab area, Austria. The first flight was a passenger transport of helpers to the Schiestlhaus at an altitude of 2150 m, and the second flight was a cargo transport from the pickup location in Seewiesen at an altitude of 950 m, also to the Schiestlhaus.
At around 11:00 a.m., the pilot, with the AS 350B2 helicopter without an external load, was on the return flight from the Schiestlhaus to the landing site in Seewiesen. Shortly after passing the terrain step in the area of the Florhütte, the unloaded, approximately 12 m long external load cable got entangled in the tail rotor. As the cable wrapped around the shaft, controls, and blades of the tail rotor, the entire tail rotor, including the vertical stabilizer fin, detached from the helicopter. As a result, the helicopter became uncontrollable and subsequently crashed into the forested area ahead of it. The impact occurred with a significant downward pitch angle (more than 60°). The pilot suffered fatal injuries.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
LFZ Register Austria
https://www.derstandard.at/story/667083/hubschrauber-bei-versorgungsflug-abgestuerzt-pilot-starb
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 02-Dec-2016 15:43 | Alpine Flight | Added |
| 11-Oct-2021 18:23 | harro | Updated [Source, ] |
| 27-May-2023 17:29 | harro | Updated |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2025 Flight Safety Foundation