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| Date: | Wednesday 27 February 2019 |
| Time: | c 13:30 LT |
| Type: |  Airbus Helicopters H125 (AS 350B3e) |
| Owner/operator: | Air Dynasty |
| Registration: | 9N-AMI |
| MSN: | 8324 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2016 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 1280 hours |
| Engine model: | Safran Arriel 2D |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 7 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Pathibhara, Taplejung district -
 Nepal
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Passenger - Non-Scheduled/charter/Air Taxi |
| Departure airport: | Pathibhara Devi temple |
| Taplejung Airport (TPJ/VNTJ) | |
| Investigating agency: | Nepal AAIC |
The Airbus Helicopters H125, 9N-AMI, crashed at rashed at Sisne Khola Bhir, Pathibhara, Nepal, killing all seven on board. Among the passengers were Nepali Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari, the owner of Yeti Airlines & Air Dynasty and the Deputy Director-General of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.
The helicopter impacted a mountainside at an altitude of 10350 feet, after entering IMC conditions shortly after take-off.
Probable Cause
The PIC, who was possibly affected with euphoria (initial phase of hypoxia) immediately after take-off from the Pathibhara helipad in unfavorable weather encountered strong gusting wind along with snowfall which led him to inadvertently enter into IMC conditions, lost his situational awareness and positive control of helicopter which ultimately led to the CFIT accident.
Contributing Factors
The contributing factors for the accident are:
1. Unfavourable weather condition at Pathibhara area for VFR flight.
2. Excess load on front bench seat which contributed for the C of G to go beyond the limit.
3. The concern of the occupants to escape from that deteriorating weather as early as possible.
4. Condensation inside the windshield and icing on the outside of the windshield which reduced outside visibility.
5. Insufficient operational oversight from the organization.
6. Inadequate pre-flight planning and lack of consideration on individual load while preparing load and trim sheet.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/air-dynasty-helicopter-carrying-minister-adhikari-goes-out-of-contact/
https://www.facebook.com/LoveForaviationinNepal/posts/2087228917980322?__tn__=-R
https://www.airdynastyheli.com/page.php?id=9n-ami-as350-h125
http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2019-02-27/chopper-carrying-minister-rabindra-adhikari-crashes-in-taplejung.html
Location
Media:
A Eurocopter AS350 helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff in Taplejung, killing 7 people on board, including Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Rabindra Adhikari. This is the second chopper accident in recent years involving high-profile individuals.https://t.co/sHkOTNIyV5 pic.twitter.com/u2nswM5r3J
— PLANES OF LEGEND (@PlanesOfLegend) 28 février 2019
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 27-Feb-2019 08:50 | gerard57 | Added |
| 27-Feb-2019 08:53 | harro | Updated [Destination airport, Damage, Narrative, ] |
| 27-Feb-2019 08:55 | harro | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Source, ] |
| 27-Feb-2019 09:54 | gerard57 | Updated [Total fatalities, Damage, Narrative, ] |
| 27-Feb-2019 16:09 | Geno | Updated [Time, Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, ] |
| 27-Feb-2019 16:59 | Aerossurance | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Nature, Narrative, ] |
| 28-Feb-2019 14:52 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Embed code, ] |
| 28-Feb-2019 14:53 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Embed code, ] |
| 28-Feb-2019 15:00 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Embed code, ] |
| 28-Feb-2019 16:09 | RobertMB | Updated [Aircraft type, Embed code, ] |
| 08-Dec-2023 10:28 | harro | Updated [Other fatalities, Embed code, Narrative, Category, Accident report, ] |
| 08-Dec-2023 10:35 | harro | Updated [Other fatalities, Source, ] |
| 08-Dec-2023 10:57 | harro | Updated [Other fatalities, Embed code, ] |
| 08-Dec-2023 11:05 | harro | Updated [Other fatalities, ] |
| 08-Dec-2023 13:18 | harro | Updated [Other fatalities, ] |
| 08-Dec-2023 13:20 | harro | Updated [Other fatalities, Source, ] |
| 08-Dec-2023 13:21 | harro | Updated [Other fatalities, ] |
| 08-Dec-2023 13:22 | harro | Updated [Other fatalities, ] |
| 08-Dec-2023 13:24 | harro | Updated [Other fatalities, Narrative, ] |
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