Flight Background
On 14 September 2013, a Robinson R-22 Beta II helicopter, registration EC-LAY, operated by Intercopters, S.L., was conducting a local promotional flight. The flight departed from and was to return to a field near Vilanant, Girona, Spain. The helicopter carried one pilot and one passenger. The flight was arranged via an internet portal advertising a "helicopter piloting experience" lasting 40 minutes, including a 30-minute theoretical briefing and a 10-minute practical flight.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft was a Robinson R-22 Beta II, serial number (S/N) not specified in the report. It held a valid airworthiness certificate. The operator held an AOC for commercial air transport, but the specific flight did not correspond to any of the operator's authorized activities.
Personnel
The pilot held a Commercial Pilot License for helicopters (CPL(H)) and a Flight Instructor rating (FI(H)). The pilot had a total flight time not disclosed in the report. The passenger was a person who had purchased the flight experience; no pilot license was held.
Sequence of Events
After takeoff, the helicopter turned onto a downwind leg, intending to depart eastward. Shortly after beginning this leg, the pilot lost control. The helicopter struck the cables and one of the supports of a high-tension electrical line. The impact caused a fire, and the aircraft crashed to the ground.
Injuries and Damage
Both occupants suffered serious injuries. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. No other injuries or damage were reported.
Probable Cause
The investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was the conduct of a flight under conditions that did not specifically correspond to any of the activities authorized for the operator. During the flight, the passenger momentarily lost control of their actions and froze, which caused the pilot to lose control of the helicopter.
Safety Recommendation
As a result of the investigation, one operational safety recommendation was issued.