Robinson R22 BETA incident near Bern, Ch, April 6, 2016
On April 6, 2016 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Robinson R22 BETA (helicopter), registered HBZGO, suffered minor damage in an incident during enroute (cruise) near Bern (Berne Airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this incident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 6, 2016 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bern, Switzerland · Berne Airport · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 BETA · all R22 BETAs on the register
- Registration
- HBZGO · no longer on the register · serial 3830
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On April 6, 2016, about 1330 Universal Coordinated Time (UTC), the crew of a Robinson R22 BETA, Swiss registration HB-ZGO, made a precautionary landing at Bern Airport (LSZB), Bern, Switzerland, after they smelled smoke. They noted the alternator had failed and the electrical system was shut down. The alternator fire was extinguished on landing. The two pilots were not injured. The helicopter received minor damage. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Mountain Flyers 80 Ltd. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the incident. The local flight originated from LSZB at an undetermined time. The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the Swiss Transportation Safety Board (STSB). This report is for informational purposes only and contains information released by or obtained from the government of the Switzerland. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Swiss Transportation Safety Board Aeropole 1, 1530 Payerne Bern, Switzerland
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Electrical system malf/failure during enroute (cruise) defining event
Pilot
No details recorded.
Pilot
No details recorded.
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LSZB Berne
- Destination: LSZB Berne
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 1:30 pm from LSZB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.