What happened
On January 14, 2001, at approximately 15:35 local time, a Robinson R-22 Beta helicopter, registration EC-FBZ, crashed near Valderrueda in the province of León, Spain. The aircraft had been chartered for aerial photography of local landscapes and villages.
While flying at a low altitude, the helicopter's main rotor blades struck high-voltage power lines owned by Red Eléctrica Española. The impact caused the blades to break and the aircraft to become momentarily suspended by the electrical cables. During this period, the aircraft swung, causing electrical arcing between the cables and the landing skid. After approximately 10 seconds, the cables snapped under the weight of the aircraft, causing the helicopter to fall approximately 50 meters to the ground. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and two fatalities.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance records, the flight conditions, and witness testimonies. The investigation established that the aircraft's airworthiness certificate and maintenance schedules, including the 100-hour inspections for both the airframe and the engine, were up to date.
Witnesses reported that the helicopter had been flying low over the village of Valderrueda for some time. One witness noted that the pilot had previously informed a local resident that the flight was intended to take photographs of houses for potential expansions. The investigation also noted that the weather conditions were suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR), though the sun was positioned directly in front of the pilot during the flight path.