2019 Alta helicopter crash

Helitrans

Industry	Aviation
Headquarters	Norway
Key people	Oddvar Røysi (CEO)
Products	Helicopter services, sightseeing flights
Number of employees	100 (2019)

On 31 August 2019, a helicopter of the Airbus AS350 model, piloted by a contracted aviator from Helitrans in Sweden, crashed in the mountainous area of Skoddevarre within Alta Municipality, Norway. This accident happened during a sightseeing flight organized in conjunction with a local music festival and resulted in six deaths. The aircraft, bearing the registration LN‑OFU, had been recently delivered and successfully passed safety inspections just hours prior to departure.

The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority (NSIA) determined that no mechanical defects were present but identified that LN‑OFU experienced servo transparency—a condition where rotor forces surpass the hydraulic servomotor’s capacity, causing control lock-up. This was triggered by a combination of heavy payload and sudden changes in speed. The pilot was unable to restore command over the helicopter, and the ensuing crash sparked a fire due to the absence of a crash-resistant fuel system (CRFS), leading to fatal burn injuries. Autopsy results confirmed death caused by burns. Following the investigation, NSIA advised prohibiting commercial operations of rotorcraft without CRFS installations within the European Union.

Helitrans faced scrutiny for assigning an inexperienced pilot to the flight and for operating helicopters without CRFS protection. After the accident, the company initiated a fleet upgrade by acquiring helicopters equipped with CRFS technology. Both Helitrans and the music festival discontinued their sightseeing flight offerings.

Background

Since 2012, a music festival held in Kvenvik had been providing helicopter tours at a cost of per ticket. These tours were operated by Helitrans using helicopters leased from another company that had purchased seven helicopters in June 2019 from Airbus’ Norwegian distributor. Both firms were wholly owned by an investment group managed by Oddvar and Anne Line Røysi. Out of Helitrans’ total fleet of 25 helicopters, 15 were Airbus AS350 units. In 2019, Helitrans employed around 100 staff members, including Fredrik Lindmark, a Swedish contract pilot responsible for flights related to the Kvenvik tours.

Fredrik Lindmark, who was 27 years old and resided in Honningsvåg, began working with Helitrans in May 2017 as a loadmaster before obtaining his commercial pilot license. He held a Swedish commercial aviation certificate alongside a first-class medical certification. Lindmark completed his AS350 type rating training at Airbus’ Marignane facility in May 2018 with high performance but lacked experience in supervised passenger flights and simulator training. His total logged flight hours amounted to 256, including 17 hours on AS350 helicopters and 50 hours involving passenger flights. Helitrans regarded sightseeing tours as appropriate for pilots to gain practical experience. Colleagues described Lindmark as prudent and careful.

The helicopter LN‑OFU had accumulated 73 flight hours since its delivery on 12 June 2019. It had been ordered by Skjolden Cruisekai in September 2018 and did not feature a crash-resistant fuel system (CRFS). Although Airbus had been developing CRFS technology since 2011, it remained optional until October 2019. Additionally, European Union regulations exempted aircraft designs certified before 1994 from mandatory CRFS installation. Retrofitting a CRFS would have entailed an estimated cost of €35,000. CEO Oddvar Røysi denied any intentional exclusion of this safety feature, explaining that manufacturers categorized it as optional equipment.

Incident

On 31 August 2019, LN‑OFU underwent a 100-hour maintenance inspection which concluded at 13:30, uncovering only a minor oil seepage from the gearbox input shaft's gasket. At 16:05, the pilot and loadmaster departed from Alta Airport heading to the Kvenvik festival area, touching down seven minutes later. The initial sightseeing flight for festival attendees commenced at 16:40 and concluded safely at 16:50. At 16:59, the pilot initiated a second tour with five passengers aboard under clear skies. During the flight towards the Skoddevarre mountains, passengers shared content on Snapchat. At 17:05, LN‑OFU lost its connection to Helitrans' GSM network and was last detected stationary at the crash location by Flightradar24 at 17:08. While witnesses heard the helicopter, no one witnessed the actual crash. A nearby observer noticed smoke rising from the mountains and informed LN‑OFU's loadmaster, who then alerted Helitrans' traffic centre, police, the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre of Northern Norway (JRCC), and Alta Airport air traffic control.

At 17:06, JRCC received an accident alert triggered by the helicopter’s emergency radiobeacon. The last communication from LN‑OFU to Helitrans occurred at 17:08 before rescue efforts commenced. At 17:16, a civilian-operated Bell 205 helicopter from Heli‑Team encountered the crash site while returning to their base in Kvænangen Municipality. Upon arrival, LN‑OFU was nearly completely consumed by fire. By 17:18, Heli‑Team established radio contact relayed via a Widerøe aircraft to Alta Airport air traffic control, providing GPS coordinates. They discovered a conscious survivor approximately 50 meters from the wreckage and landed nearby to render aid. Although responsive, the survivor could not provide details about the crash. A military Sea King rescue helicopter departed Banak airbase at 17:20, reaching the scene by 17:50. JRCC declared four victims deceased at 18:17; one person remained missing while another was treated on-site. The treated individual later died overnight at the University Hospital of North Norway, and the missing victim was located deceased at 20:40. The helicopter’s airframe—except for the tail—was destroyed by fire along with all electronic equipment onboard, igniting roughly 50 m² (538 ft²) of surrounding vegetation.

Investigation

On 1 September, three members of the Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority (NSIA) arrived at the crash location to collect evidence. The Norwegian Civil Defence supported area security and search operations, providing air transport for police teams and equipment. They also offered food and lodging for investigators. Technical experts from Airbus in France collaborated with France’s Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety and engine maker Safran Aircraft Engines during the inquiry. NSIA requested radar and air traffic control records from airport operator Avinor. Police established a 500-meter exclusion zone around the site on 1 September, advising against rumor spreading to safeguard witness testimony. On 3 September, NSIA began transporting wreckage to Kjeller in Southern Norway, with travel restrictions lifted on 5 September.

During their onsite examination, NSIA recovered the helicopter’s flight recorder, which had been damaged by fire, complicating analysis of causes. The recorder was forwarded to its French manufacturer for data extraction. Investigators discovered that five out of six bolts securing the gearbox to the engine were either missing or broken, indicating possible pre-impact failure. Starting on 9 October, police conducted searches in mountainous terrain for missing bolts, eventually recovering ten of eleven bolts found.

Following these initial findings, Airbus released an urgent service bulletin on 11 September mandating immediate inspections of AS350, AS550, and EC130 helicopters. Helitrans reported no irregularities within their fleet, while Norway's Civil Aviation Authority confirmed no issues among operators of these models.

Media shared by passengers via Snapchat before the accident were reviewed but did not assist in identifying technical faults. One video captured seconds before impact was considered potentially significant, yet police were unable to retrieve it from Snapchat due to insufficient criminal grounds.

NSIA report

In March 2022, the NSIA published an investigation report regarding the accident. Preliminary versions were distributed to involved parties, including manufacturers, after verifying translation accuracy. The findings identified servo transparency as the most probable cause—this phenomenon occurs when rotor stress surpasses the hydraulic servomotor’s capabilities, leading to stiffened flight controls. Contributing factors include elevated speeds, aircraft weight, and high density altitude. The report also connected 11 earlier AS350 incidents to this issue.

The NSIA determined that LN‑OFU was carrying an excessive fuel load, which heightened the stress on the main rotor. Flight records revealed significant fluctuations in speed and altitude, with the latter falling below the regulatory minimum of 500 feet above ground level. The helicopter’s pitch angle reached a downward tilt of 30°, exceeding Helitrans’ safety threshold of 15°, established following NSIA’s recommendations after the 2011 Dalamot accident. Pilot inexperience contributed to disregarding these safety limits; a passenger reported that the pilot promised a low-altitude flight to intensify the sensation of speed, a claim supported by flight-tracking data.

To mitigate servo transparency effects, pilots can reduce collective pitch, thereby decreasing rotor stress; however, this also increases descent rate and lowers altitude. The NSIA concluded that although the pilot nearly regained control, insufficient altitude prevented recovery before impact. No indications of pilot impairment or medical problems were found during the flight. The pattern of wreckage suggested a "low energy impact," and survival prospects would have improved had the helicopter not ignited—a consequence of lacking a Crash-Resistant Fuel System (CRFS). Accordingly, the NSIA advised that helicopters transporting passengers should be equipped with CRFS technology.

Victims

The five individuals who lost their lives in the crash were local residents from Alta, aged between 19 and 22 years. Among them were cousins Kevin Berg and Kine Johnsen, relatives of Ronny Berg, a former State Secretary at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries from 2015 to 2017. Their remains were recovered on the evening following the accident but initially could not be identified due to fire damage. This necessitated police collaboration with Kripos for identification purposes through DNA analysis. Names of four victims were publicly released on 1 September; others remained confidential at family requests, with the final identity disclosed the next day. On 2 September, all bodies were transported to Tromsø for autopsy examinations, which indicated death was likely caused by fire-related injuries.

On 5 September, police escorted the deceased back to Alta in individual hearses. Along the European route E6 and in towns such as Talvik, numerous residents paid their respects as hundreds of vehicles accompanied the funeral procession. The community—including members of the local fire department—gathered in Alta’s town center to receive the cortege. Funeral services were held from 10 to 13 September.

Due to clearance delays, transportation of the pilot to Sweden did not occur until 25 September. With assistance from SOS International, he was flown first to Stockholm Arlanda Airport before returning home. His identity was revealed on 3 October through an obituary published in Södermanlands Nyheter; his funeral took place on 14 October. Helitrans’ insurance covered all expenses related to his transport and funeral arrangements.

Reactions

In the wake of the tragedy, all political parties in Alta halted their 2019 local election campaigns, suspending debates, online promotions, and official visits. This action was mirrored by neighboring municipalities including Karasjok, Kautokeino, Loppa, and Kvænangen. While political groups in Hammerfest did not cancel their activities entirely, they agreed to scale down campaign efforts. Negotiations following the election in Alta were put on hold until after the funerals had taken place. Additionally, school-related debates and elections were either cancelled or significantly reduced in scope within Alta, Karasjok, and Kautokeino; Alta’s secondary school temporarily paused classes to provide support for affected students. Prime Minister Erna Solberg conveyed her sympathies to the families of the victims and employees of Helitrans.

Memorial ceremonies took place at Alta’s Northern Lights Cathedral on 1 and 4 September, drawing crowds that exceeded the venue’s capacity. A smaller remembrance service was held at Karasjok Church for victims connected to that community.

A fundraising campaign initiated on 13 September via Spleis to assist the pilot’s family rapidly surpassed its initial target of NOK 30,000, eventually collecting NOK 231,100. Helitrans administered these funds until the family determined their allocation. Another fundraiser dedicated to supporting victims’ families from Alta raised NOK 144,630.

On 31 August 2020, multiple memorials were unveiled to honor those lost: one sponsored by Alta municipality at the Northern Lights Cathedral; a second created by local youth at Kvenvikmoen golf course; and a third at Skoddevarre revealed by Helitrans’ general manager Richard Simonsen alongside family members (the pilot’s family was absent due to COVID-19 restrictions). As a mark of respect, Helitrans grounded all helicopters for one hour.

Following the NSIA report released in March 2022, criticism arose locally concerning the use of sightseeing flights for pilot training with passengers aboard. Families of the victims also faulted Helitrans for failing to equip helicopters with crash-resistant flight recorders (CRFSs).

A five-year memorial event took place in Alta on 31 August 2024, attended by approximately seventy individuals.

Aftermath

Immediately after the accident, Alta municipality activated a crisis management team at the town hall. The Regional Psychiatric Centre for Western Finnmark established a dedicated helpline to provide immediate support from emergency responders and crisis professionals to relatives and friends. The Municipal Medical Officer directed psychiatric services within local institutions—including the Finnmark Hospital Trust—to prioritize assistance for those grieving, while general practitioners were instructed to maintain availability. Full staffing was ensured at the Northern Lights Cathedral, youth center, and hospital to facilitate support efforts.

The festival cancelled all scheduled events but permitted gatherings within its venue. Organizers of Alta Event ceased offering helicopter sightseeing tours. Helitrans temporarily grounded its helicopter fleet but resumed operations on 11 September. On 2 September 2020, Helitrans’ general manager Richard Simonsen announced a permanent halt to sightseeing tours as a gesture of respect toward the victims. By September 2021, Helitrans had invested in two new flight simulators aimed at improving pilot safety and invited industry collaborators to help develop a competency centre focused on enhancing safety standards.

Starting 1 October 2019, Airbus integrated crash-resistant fuel systems (CRFS) as standard equipment on all new AS350 helicopters and advocated retrofitting older models. Flight training provider Coptersafety inaugurated an AS350 simulator facility in Vantaa, Finland that same month, earning certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

In March 2022, the NSIA recommended an EU-wide prohibition on commercial helicopter flights without CRFSs after noting that occupants might have survived if a post-crash fire had not occurred. In November, EASA proposed regulations requiring CRFS installation on both new and existing helicopter types and sought public input ahead of the European Commission’s decision on airworthiness certification standards expected in 2023. Following the NSIA findings, Helitrans reported having replaced 60% of its older fleet with helicopters equipped with CRFS but regarded retrofitting existing aircraft as economically unfeasible.

Lawsuits

Within hours following the accident, the Troms and Finnmark Public Prosecution Office initiated an inquiry into Helitrans, focusing on pilot qualifications and certification. On 22 July 2022, the prosecutor discontinued the case against the pilot due to his passing and closed the investigation into Helitrans citing insufficient evidence. Police attorney Hanne Bernhardsen affirmed that a comprehensive investigation was conducted, while a representative for four affected families chose not to comment on the possibility of filing an appeal.

Shortly after the incident, on 4 September 2019, Helicopter Solutions, a consulting firm, reached out to legal representatives in Alta offering their expertise for potential lawsuits against Helitrans as "independent specialists" in helicopter operations and maintenance. They initially attributed responsibility to both Helitrans and the pilot, highlighting the company’s previous connections to fatal accidents. This stance was criticized by several attorneys as being speculative and premature. Richard Simonsen, Helitrans’ general manager, described the timing and approach as inappropriate and insensitive. Helicopter Solutions did not provide any comments in response to media inquiries.