What happened
On September 29, 2024, at approximately 09:57 local time, a BELL 206B helicopter, registration EC-EXE, crashed in the municipality of Puçol, Valencia. The aircraft, operated by BIGAS GRUP HELICOPTERS, had departed from La Llosa aerodrome at 09:03 for a specialized aerial inspection mission involving low and medium voltage power lines.
During the mission, the crew was conducting inspections along the coastline and moving south toward Puerto de Sagunto. After completing an inspection of lines parallel to the A7 highway, the pilot proceeded to inspect electrical infrastructure located within a residential development on Monte Picayo. While performing a left turn to retrace previous flight paths, the aircraft crossed over a second set of electrical lines that were not part of the current inspection campaign. The helicopter struck these lines, causing a large flash of fire. Following the impact, the aircraft entered a vertical, uncontrolled descent, eventually crashing into a fruit orchard. The accident resulted in 3 fatalities among the crew, and the aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation is currently ongoing. Investigators are focusing their efforts on analyzing the specific nature of the aerial inspection operations and reviewing the regulatory framework governing such tasks. Additionally, the investigation is examining the operator's manual of operations to determine if established procedures were followed during the mission.