What happened
On March 2, 2006, at approximately 16:30 local time, a Robinson R44 Clipper, registration EC-HTT, departed from a concrete helipad located near a restaurant in Sagás, Barcelona. The flight was a private general aviation operation intended for a visual flight to Sabadell Airport.
After taking off on a heading of 290°, the helicopter traveled approximately 120 meters before performing a right turn. During this maneuver, the aircraft struck medium-voltage power lines, causing the helicopter to crash and overturn on its left side. The pilot successfully shut off the fuel supply and deactivated the master and alternate switches. Both the pilot and the passenger, who were wearing seatbelments, were uninjured and were able to exit the aircraft on their own.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight path, environmental conditions, and the pilot's visibility. The aircraft sustained significant damage, including broken main rotor blades, damage to the transmission gearbox attachment, and a severed tail cone. The investigation also noted that the takeoff pad was located near both high-voltage and medium-voltage lines.
Witnesses from the nearby restaurant noted that the pilot was a regular customer and had previously expressed concern regarding the nearby electrical lines. Observations from restaurant staff indicated that helicopters using the pad typically take off in the opposite direction to avoid the power lines. The investigation also considered the solar position, noting that sunset was scheduled for 18:42, meaning the sun was low in the sky at the time of the accident.
Findings
- The pilot was aware of the high-voltage lines to the left but failed to perceive the medium-voltage lines due to sun glare.
- The low angle of the sun created a blinding effect that prevented the pilot from detecting the cables in time to avoid the collision, despite an attempted evasive maneuver.
- The chosen takeoff heading of 290° was suboptimal; a southeast departure would have provided an obstacle-free ascent, positioned the wind against the nose of the aircraft, and eliminated the risk of solar glare.