Helicopter Collision with Power Lines in Sagás, Barcelona (EC-HTT)

Incident Overview and Location Details On Thursday, March 2, 2006, at 16:30 local time, a private Robinson R44 Clipper helicopter, registration EC-HTT, was involved in an accident in Sagás, Barcelona. The aircraft was powered by a single Lycoming O-540-F1B5 engine. The pilot, a 68-year-old private helicopter pilot with 1,200 total flight hours and 400 hours on type, was accompanied by one passenger. The flight was a general aviation visual flight intended to reach Sabadell Airport. ## Flight Sequence and Impact The helicopter took off from a concrete surface near a restaurant with a heading of 290°. After traveling 120 meters in the air, the aircraft executed a right turn and struck the cables of a medium-voltage power line. The helicopter fell to the ground and overturned onto its left side. The pilot shut off the fuel supply and turned off the master and alternate switches. Both occupants, who were seated in the front seats with seatbelts fastened, were uninjured and evacuated the aircraft under their own power. ## Aircraft Damage and Environmental Factors The helicopter was destroyed, with damage including broken and deformed main rotor blades, a severed tail cone, and broken tail rotor blades. The impact also caused damage to the power line cables. The pilot reported that glare from the sun prevented him from seeing the medium-voltage power line until he was very close, despite being aware of a high-voltage line to his left. Witnesses noted that the pilot was a regular customer who had not consumed alcohol and had previously expressed concern about nearby power lines. The takeoff was observed by restaurant staff, who noted that helicopters typically took off in the opposite direction to avoid the power lines. ## Investigation Findings and Probable Cause The investigation found that the sun's position at 16:30 was low enough to cause glare, preventing the pilot from seeing the cables in time to avoid the impact. The area had a high-voltage line to the west and a medium-voltage line 120 meters to the north, both visible from the platform. The wind was from the south at 7 to 10 knots, with good visibility and clear skies. The report concluded that the most probable cause of the impact was pilot glare from the sun due to an inadequate selection of the takeoff heading. A more suitable takeoff direction would have been southeast, where the ascent area was free of obstacles, the wind was into the nose, and there was no risk of sun glare.