ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 221120
Last updated: 11 June 2019
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| Date: | 25-JAN-2019 |
| Time: | c. 13:30 UTC |
| Type: |  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] |
| Aosta Valley Airport [AOT/LIMW] |
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
Images:
Photo: Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico (CNSAS)
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 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] |
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