Flight History
On 22 June 2009, two fires broke out in the Vallés Oriental region. Aerial resources from the Sabadell base were activated, including a firefighting coordination helicopter (H-02) and helicopter B-41 (EC-IOJ), which was engaged in firefighting. At 11:14, the helicopter contacted Sabadell Airport ATC for takeoff clearance and took off at 11:17. It proceeded to Mollet del Vallés for firefighting. The helicopter was equipped with a belly tank attached to a fill pump via a hose. Onboard were a pilot and a flight operator. According to eyewitnesses, during what was likely the third or fourth water refilling operation at a pond near the fire, the helicopter climbed while dragging a rope attached to the fill pump. After climbing several meters, the tank emptied its contents, the rope shot upward and became entangled in the main rotor, dragging the fill pump which struck the rotor blades. The helicopter immediately began descending in a parabolic trajectory until impacting the ground. The two occupants perished, and the aircraft was destroyed.
Injuries and Damage
The two occupants (the pilot and the flight operator) died as a result of the impact. The helicopter was destroyed.
Personnel Information
The pilot, a 36-year-old Spanish national, held valid CPL(H) and ATPL(H) licenses with ratings including AS350/350B3, EC135, IR(H), and agricultural firefighting. He had a valid Class-1 medical certificate. He had 2,083 hours and 46 minutes total flight experience, with 471 hours and 32 minutes on type. He had flown 50 hours and 58 minutes in the last 90 days, 24 hours and 1 minute in the last 30 days, and 2 hours and 34 minutes in the last 24 hours. He went on duty at 07:39 after 12 hours of rest. The flight operator, a 30-year-old Spanish national, held a valid CPL(H) with AS350/350B3 and VFR ratings, and a Class-1 medical certificate.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft was a Eurocopter AS 350 B3, registration EC-IOJ, serial number 3701. It was owned and operated by TAF HELICOPTERS, S.L. The helicopter was equipped with a belly tank for water pickup, with a hose connecting to a fill pump.