What happened
On November 19, 2020, an EC120B helicopter, registration SP-GRY, was performing a sightseeing flight. During the return leg of the flight, at the request of the owner, the pilot performed a hover approximately 1 meter above a large meadow, utilizing a headwind.
As the pilot increased engine power to transition from the hover into a climbing straight flight, the aircraft began an uncontrolled leftward rotation accompanied by a rightward bank. The pilot attempted to counteract this movement by applying increased right pedal and left cyclic input; however, these control inputs failed to stabilize the aircraft. In an attempt to land within the hover area, the pilot reduced engine power. The helicopter touched down on its right skid while continuing to rotate left. This resulted in the main rotor blades striking the ground, leading to their destruction. The fuselage subsequently struck the ground on its right side, and the aircraft completed a 180-degree rotation from its intended takeoff heading. The crew successfully exited the aircraft after the pilot shut down the engine and fuel supply and emergency-released the left door.
The investigation
The PKBWL examined the wreckage at the CAMO facility. The inspection revealed significant damage, including the destruction of the main rotor blades, damage to the tail boom, and damage to the fuselage and right side of the aircraft. The investigation established that the tail rotor control system had lost kinematic continuity due to impact damage, though the fenestron pitch change mechanism was found to be functioning correctly. No excessive wear was found on the Flexball components.
Findings
- The crew sustained no injuries.
- The aircraft sustained heavy damage.
- The primary cause of the accident was excessive and dynamic use of flight controls during the takeoff maneuver.