What happened
On 13 September 2014, an Agusta AW 119, registration EC-KSD, was performing aerial firefighting duties under contract for the regional government of Castilla–La Mancha. The helicopter, operated by FAASA, had been transporting a firefighting brigade to Almansa to assist with active forest fires.
After completing several water drops, the pilot began a flight toward the base in Carcelén to refuel. While cruising over the municipality of Alpera, the engine stopped, leading to a rapid loss of altitude. The helicopter struck the ground almost vertically at a high energy level. The pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, was killed upon impact. The wreckage was discovered by a passerby approximately two and a half hours after the accident.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation focused on the engine' and fuel systems, as well as the flight's final moments. Investigators analyzed the engine display units (EDUs), the aircraft's flight logs, and the fleet tracking system. The investigation also examined the condition of the low fuel level sensors and the emergency locator transmitter (ELT).
Technical analysis of the wreckage and engine performance revealed that the engine had been running for approximately 78 minutes from startup until the failure. While the flight log indicated a takeoff fuel load of 240 kg, calculations suggested the aircraft was actually carrying closer to 180 kg at the start of the flight. Furthermore, the investigation found that the ELT failed to transmit because the cable connecting it to the antenna had been improperly installed and was severed during the impact.