D328 / R44, Bern Switzerland, 2012

D328 / R44, Bern Switzerland, 2012

Summary

On 2 June 2012, a Dornier 328 and a commercially-operated Robinson R44 helicopter came into close proximity within the airport perimeter whilst both were departing from Bern in VMC as cleared. The Investigation attributed the conflict to inappropriate issue of clearances by the controller in a context of an absence of both a defined final approach and take off area and fixed departure routes to the three designated departure points.

Description

On 2 June 2012, a Dornier 328-100 (HB-AES) being operated by SkyWork Airlines on a scheduled passenger flight from Bern to Belgrade as SRK700 and taking off from Bern in normal day visibility came very close to colliding with a Robinson R44 helicopter (HB-ZSA) being operated by locally-based helicopter charter and pilot training company Mountainflyers 80 which had been cleared to hover taxi in the opposite direction parallel to the runway prior to departure on a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) sightseeing flight from and returning to Bern.

Investigation

An Investigation was carried out by the Swiss Accident Investigation Board (SAIB). Recorded data relevant to the Investigation was recovered from the Do328 DFDR but the aircraft Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) had been overwritten during the subsequent flight as had the data on the helicopter Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment. No radar recordings were available. It was noted that weather conditions were good and had played no part in the conflict and that the airspace involved was designated as Class 'D'.

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