Accident Overview
On Wednesday, 20 July 2022, at 08:00 UTC, a Eurocopter AS-350-B3 helicopter, registration EC-LBU, operated by Pegasus Aviación, departed from the Hiendelaencina-Las Minas Aerodrome in Guadalajara, Spain, for a firefighting mission. The helicopter was one of two stationed at the base and was dispatched to a forest fire near Valdepeñas de la Sierra, about 10 miles away.
Accident Sequence
Both helicopters arrived at the fire and were cleared to approach and offload firefighters. After circling to reconnoitre the terrain, the lead helicopter landed in an area suitable for only one helicopter, requiring sequential landings. The EC-LBU pilot, while waiting, moved to avoid the flight path of other water-dropping helicopters and selected a different landing point: a road in a mountainous area. The road had a downward slope above and another slope on the opposite side, with a headwind and possible downhill escape routes. Due to a thick dust layer, the pilot performed a high hover to 'sweep' the road, then landed safely in the middle, parallel to it. After the firefighters disembarked and deployed the helicopter bucket, the pilot initiated a vertical take-off. During this manoeuvre, the helicopter struck an electrified fence—a metal wire attached to iron rods on both sides—causing damage.
Damage and Injuries
The pilot immediately landed the aircraft on the road and was unharmed. The helicopter sustained significant damage to its main rotor, tail rotor, and horizontal stabiliser. No other damages were reported.
Investigation Findings
The investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was a manoeuvre that did not comply with the limits of the area chosen for the operation. Specifically, the tail rotor hit the aerial wire of an electrified fence, pulling out its ground support rod, which then impacted the fuselage and the main rotor. As a result of the damage, the pilot performed an emergency landing on the road.
Probable Cause
The probable cause is a manoeuvre that did not comply with the limits of the area chosen for the operation, causing the tail rotor to hit the aerial wire of an electrified fence and pull out its ground support rod, which in turn impacted the fuselage and the main rotor.