What happened
On March 12, 2007, at approximately 19:30 local time, a Bell 412 helicopter, registration EC-HXX, was engaged in aerial firefighting operations near Lanteira, Granada. The aircraft, operated by Helisureste, had been dispatched from the Los Moralillos base to assist in suppressing a wildfire in Níjar, Almería.
During the outbound flight, the crew was instructed by Almería Tower to avoid the active LED-36 military firing range, forcing a detour to the south. Upon completing the firefighting task, the return flight required navigating around the restricted airspace, which significantly increased the flight duration and fuel consumption. As the aircraft crossed the La Ragua pass, the pilot noted a low fuel warning. Shortly thereafter, while descending between 5,500 and 6,000 feet, the right engine failed, followed immediately by the left engine. The crew initiated an autorotation, but the aircraft struck tree branches during the descent, resulting in 12 injuries and 2 fatalities among the passengers and crew.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation examined the flight trajectory using GPS tracking data, which revealed that the flight path was inefficient. The investigation noted that the outbound route crossed the restricted military zone, and the return route was even more circuitous, forcing the aircraft to climb over higher terrain, which further depleted fuel reserves.
Investigators also reviewed the operational procedures and resources available to the crew. While the pilot had access to internet-connected computers and mobile phones for weather and geographic information, the aircraft lacked onboard aeronautical charts and maps. Furthermore, the investigation found that required reconnaissance flights of the operational area had not been performed, leaving the crew with limited familiarity with the terrain.
Findings
- The primary cause of the engine failure was fuel exhaustion.
- Inefficient flight planning and execution led to an extended flight time that exceeded the remaining fuel reserves.
- The necessity of navigating around the active LED-36 military range increased the workload and fuel consumption.
- The lack of onboard aeronautical charts and the failure to conduct prior reconnaissance flights hindered effective navigation and situational awareness.
- The lack of predefined refueling points for long-distance firefighting missions contributed to the critical fuel state.