What happened
On May 19, 2001, a Robinson R-22-Beta helicopter, registration EC-FVN, was engaged in a non-commercial pleasure flight near Castellar del Vallés, Barcelona. After departing from Sabadell airport, the pilot proceeded to a local microlight airfield to perform a series of takeoffs and landings.
During a takeoff attempt on runway 20, the pilot began accelerating down the runway, starting approximately 200 meters from the end of the strip. As the aircraft approached the end of the runway, the pilot realized the helicopter had not gained sufficient altitude to clear a line of trees standing 8 to 10 meters high at the runway extremity. To avoid the obstacles, the pilot initiated an aborted takeoff by performing a 180-degree turn to return to the runway for a landing.
During this maneuver, the aircraft maintained lateral movement that the pilot could not arrest. As the helicopter approached the ground, one of the skids made contact with the terrain, triggering a right-side rollover. During the roll, the main rotor blades struck the ground, causing significant damage to the rotor system, the cabin, and the tail cone. Both occupants managed to exit the aircraft through the passenger door without serious injury.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's weight and balance, performance capabilities, and the pilot's decision-making process. The Robinson R-22-Beta was found to be within its weight and center of gravity limits, though the total weight of 1,317 lbs was close to the maximum allowable limit of 1,370 lbs.
Performance calculations confirmed that the aircraft was operating well below the maximum pressure altitude limits for hovering, meaning the engine and rotor were capable of the required performance. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's experience, noting the pilot held a valid private helicopter license with 75 total flight hours, all of which were in this specific type.
Findings
- The pilot made an incorrect estimation of the aircraft's altitude relative to the trees at the end of the runway.
- The decision to abort the takeoff was considered appropriate, as an attempt to rapidly gain altitude might have caused a dangerous drop in rotor RPM.
- Insufficient pilot experience contributed to the inability to control the lateral movement of the aircraft during the landing phase of the aborted maneuver, leading to the skid catching the ground and causing the rollover.