What happened
On 30 March 2004, a Eurocopter SA-365-N1, registration EC-GJE, was conducting a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) mission in San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Las Palmas. The flight was initiated following a serious tourist bus accident that had left 27 people injured. The crew, consisting of a pilot, a doctor, and a nurse, landed on a small asphalted shoulder of a road near the wreckage to evacuate two injured passengers.
The pilot had previously noted the presence of high-voltage power lines crossing the area. Shortly after takeoff, while performing a tight left climbing turn, one of the main rotor blades struck two wires of a power line. The impact caused approximately half of the blade span to detach. Following the strike, the helicopter continued to fly for about 2,500 meters before the reduction gearbox and three additional rotor blades detached, leading to the final impact with the ground.
The investigation
The CIAIAC examined the flight history, aircraft maintenance records, and the mechanics of the impact. Investigators analyzed the geometry of the wire strike and the maneuverability of the aircraft following the contact. The investigation also reviewed the visibility of the power lines and the crew composition during the mission.
Technical analysis of the engine sound and the structural behavior of the aircraft after the impact were conducted. The investigation also looked into the organizational aspects of the HEMS operator, including fatigue management and the lack of a second pilot on board, which was not a requirement for day VFR operations at the time but could have aided in obstacle detection.