What happened
On August 5, 2003, an Aerospatiale SA 319-B helicopter, registration EC-HEA, was engaged in firefighting operations near Palma de Mallorca. The crew, consisting of a pilot, a mechanic, and a forestry agent, was responding to a wildfire in the Son Bunyola area. After an initial attempt to land at a football field was aborted due to heavy dust and low visibility, the pilot selected a curved section of the Ctra. Comarcal 710 for landing, as Civil Guard personnel were present in the area to manage traffic.
The aircraft performed a deep approach and landed on the descending slope of the roadway. Upon touchdown, the pilot experienced vibrations and attempted to climb to establish a hover. During this ascent, the tail rotor guard struck the pavement, causing the aircraft to destabilize. The helicopter entered a leftward turn, and after three rotations, the main rotor blades struck a nearby earth embankment. The impact caused the tail cone to detach and the aircraft to capsize onto its right side. The aircraft was completely destroyed.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft' and the pilot's actions. Investigators found that the tail rotor cables had been severed by the impact but remained continuous. The inspection of the cabin revealed no mechanical anomalies. Maintenance records showed that the aircraft had been subject to several instances of "ground resonance" and vibrations during the preceding months, and service bulletins had been applied to mitigate these issues.
Investigators also noted that none of the occupants were wearing helmets at the time of the accident. The investigation focused on the landing geometry, the aircraft's stability during the transition from touchdown to climb, and the impact of the road's downward slope on the tail rotor's clearance.