ASN logo
ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 221120
Last updated: 18 September 2019
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information. If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.

Date:25-JAN-2019
Time:c. 13:30 UTC
Type:Silhouette image of generic AS50 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Eurocopter AS 350B3 Ecureuil
Owner/operator:GMH Helicopter Services
Registration: I-EDIC
C/n / msn: 4458
Fatalities:Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 6
Other fatalities:2
Aircraft damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:Rutor Glacier, La Thuile on the border between Val d'Aosta and France -   Italy
Phase: Initial climb
Nature:Non Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:Aosta Valley Airport [AOT/LIMW]
Destination airport:Aosta Valley Airport [AOT/LIMW]
Narrative:
A Jodel D.140E Mousquetaire IV (F-PMGV) and a Eurocopter AS 350B3 Ecureuil helicopter (I-EDIC) experienced a mid-air collision in an area close to the Rutor glacier, at an altitude of about 2700 m.
The first contact occurred between the airplane lower right side and the helicopter main rotor. After the first contact between the two aircraft, the airplane broke up in flight, separating in at least 4 sections: the engine, the wings, the canopy and the tail. After the first contact, the helicopter suffered serious damages to the main rotor blades, which likely prevented the helicopter from maintaining control in flight.
The pilot and 4 out of the 5 passengers on board of the helicopter and 2 out of the 3 pilots on board of the airplane died. The French instructor pilot on board the Jodel and a German skier on board of the helicopter survived the crash.
At the time of the collision the helicopter was on approach to a heliski release area while the ski-equipped Jodel was on approach to a glacier landing area.

A Jodel D.140E Mousquetaire IV (F-PMGV) and a Eurocopter AS 350B3 Ecureuil helicopter (I-EDIC) experienced a mid-air collision in an area close to the Rutor glacier, at an altitude of about 2700 m.
The first contact occurred between the airplane lower right side and the helicopter main rotor. After the first contact between the two aircraft, the airplane broke up in flight, separating in at least 4 sections: the engine, the wings, the canopy and the tail. After the first contact, the helicopter suffered serious damages to the main rotor blades, which likely prevented the helicopter from maintaining control in flight.
The pilot and 4 out of the 5 passengers on board of the helicopter and 2 out of the 3 pilots on board of the airplane died. The French instructor pilot on board the Jodel and a German skier on board of the helicopter survived the crash.
At the time of the collision the helicopter was on approach to a heliski release area while the ski-equipped Jodel was on approach to a glacier landing area.


Sources:

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1077872/alps-plane-crash-rutor-glacier-italy-latest
https://www.thelocal.it/20190125/plane-crash-helicopter-aosta-valley-italy-alps
https://www.corriereadriatico.it/attualita/rutor_incidente_elicottero_aereo-4255645.html
http://www.ansv.it/It/Detail_relazioni.asp?ID=2150
http://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/topnews/2019/01/25/morto-pilota-e-guida-in-scontro-v.-aosta_4972bf80-7547-49f1-9e63-2bef1eb43019.html
https://starworksky.com/
https://www.france24.com/en/20190126-death-toll-italy-helicopter-plane-crash-rises-7

https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/9036317

http://www.ansa.it/valledaosta/notizie/2019/07/05/tragedia-rutor-spuntano-gopro-con-video_b1ace4bc-85e8-4f55-8c83-9380cc97b691.html


Images:


Photo: Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico (CNSAS)

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
25-Jan-2019 17:08 gerard57 Added
25-Jan-2019 17:43 gerard57 Updated [Narrative]
25-Jan-2019 17:50 gerard57 Updated [Aircraft type, Source]
25-Jan-2019 19:03 JordyN Updated [Registration, Cn, Source]
25-Jan-2019 19:06 harro Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Location, Source, Narrative]
25-Jan-2019 19:13 harro Updated [Narrative]
25-Jan-2019 19:16 harro Updated [Photo]
25-Jan-2019 19:47 Iceman 29 Updated [Total occupants]
25-Jan-2019 20:55 RobertMB Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Operator, Location, Nature, Departure airport, Source, Narrative]
25-Jan-2019 21:00 RobertMB Updated [Source]
25-Jan-2019 22:00 Aerossurance Updated [Narrative]
26-Jan-2019 01:17 Geno Updated [Time, Phase, Source]
26-Jan-2019 08:22 harro Updated [Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]
26-Jan-2019 11:02 gerard57 Updated [Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Source, Narrative]
28-Jan-2019 17:25 Aerossurance Updated [Other fatalities, Narrative]
06-Mar-2019 10:57 harro Updated [Time, Total fatalities, Narrative]
11-Jul-2019 17:09 MKAPPE Updated [Source]

Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description