History of the Flight
At approximately 16:30 local time on 18 September 2011, a Bell 206B helicopter, registration D-HONY, operated by Rotorflug GmbH, departed from Jerez Airport for an aerial filming mission over Cádiz and El Puerto de Santa María. The pilot, a 49-year-old commercial pilot with 2,506 total flight hours (327 on type), occupied the front right seat. A production company executive sat in the front left seat, and a camera operator occupied the center rear seat.
About 20 minutes after takeoff, while filming over the town center of El Puerto de Santa María, the helicopter began an uncommanded rapid rotation to the right. The pilot attempted to regain control but was unsuccessful. The helicopter descended and struck a city street, impacting several buildings during the descent.
Injuries and Damage
The camera operator exited the wreckage unaided with minor injuries. The pilot and the executive were rendered unconscious and were rescued by bystanders. According to the accident report, the pilot sustained fatal injuries, the executive serious injuries, and the camera operator minor injuries. No bystanders or residents were injured.
The helicopter suffered significant structural damage. The tail boom was bent forward of the horizontal stabilizer, and the tail rotor transmission and pitch control bar were fractured. Both main rotor blades were damaged; one blade tip section was found on a nearby roof. The right-angle gearbox on the tail rotor was attached by only one bolt, with three bolts sheared. Building façades along the street were damaged by impact.
Aircraft Information
The Bell 206B JetRanger II (serial number not specified) was manufactured in 1978 and had accumulated 15,878 flight hours. The Allison 250-C20B engine had 7,426 operating hours. The helicopter had undergone an airworthiness inspection in February 2011, and a valid airworthiness review certificate was on board. Maintenance records showed that all required inspections and lubrications of the tail rotor drive system and gearbox had been performed within specified intervals. No pre-existing defects or repairs were noted in the records.
The helicopter was equipped with a camera installation approved by a Supplemental Type Certificate. A modification to raise the skid height had been implemented shortly before the accident; its effect on weight and balance was negligible. The takeoff weight was calculated at 3,198 lb, near the maximum of 3,200 lb, and the center of gravity remained within limits throughout the flight.
Flight Recorders and Communications
The helicopter was not equipped with a flight data or cockpit voice recorder, as not required by regulations. A portable GPS unit and the camera footage were recovered, providing flight path and video of the loss of control. The pilot had communicated with ATC at 16:35, reporting an altitude of 1,000 ft and requesting clearance into the Rota CTR. No further communications were made, and no emergency was declared.
Meteorological and Operational Conditions
At the time of the accident, the temperature was 26°C, with wind from the west-southwest at 10–12 knots. The flight was conducted under visual flight rules as an aerial work operation for filming.
Wreckage Examination
Examination of the wreckage revealed that the tail boom had bent in front of the horizontal stabilizer, with the tail rotor transmission and control bar broken in the same area. No signs of wear or corrosion were found at the fracture surfaces. Three of the four bolts securing the tail rotor gearbox to the structure had failed, and the gearbox was slightly rotated. The pitch control rods for the main rotor were broken, and the gear between the drive shaft and main rotor gearbox was fractured. One tail rotor blade had separated at its outer section; the other was bent and partially detached.