History of the Flight
On Saturday, 12 November 2011, at approximately 10:40 local time, a Hughes 369E helicopter registered G-WOOW departed from Son Bonet Airport in the Balearic Islands on a private flight with two persons onboard. The flight plan indicated a duration of 1 hour and 15 minutes, and the aircraft carried fuel for 2 hours and 40 minutes.
The helicopter initially flew north, passing the town of Soller to the left, then headed northeast toward Puig Mayor mountain. After a 90-degree left turn, it flew toward the sea near Sa Calobra, then continued southwest along the coastline before turning inland on a southeasterly course over the Es Ratjoli valley.
About three minutes later, the helicopter hovered over the Comellar de Sa Guixeria valley at approximately 80 meters above ground level, facing southeast and near kilometer marker 106 on the MA-10 road. During the hover, the aircraft became unstable, descended almost vertically while making two complete right turns about its vertical axis, and then crashed against the mountainside.
A fire broke out after impact, completely destroying the helicopter and spreading to about 450 m² of vegetation before being extinguished by firefighters. The two occupants died on impact.
Personnel Information
The pilot held a Private Helicopter Pilot License (PPL(H)) issued by the United Kingdom, valid from 20 January 2011 to 19 January 2016. He had type ratings for the R44 (valid until 7 December 2012) and the Hughes 369E (issued 3 June 2011, valid until 2 June 2012). He also held a valid Class 2 JAA medical certificate until 4 November 2012.
The pilot was friends with the aircraft's owner and had flown the helicopter regularly in preceding months. His logbook was destroyed in the fire, so total flight hours and hours on type were estimated: 110 total hours and 40 hours on the Hughes 369E. The last recorded logbook entry was 8 December 2010 with 66 flight hours.
Aircraft Information
The Hughes 369E (also known as MD 369E), registration G-WOOW, was manufactured in 1989 (serial number 0344E) and powered by a Rolls Royce 250-C20B engine (serial number CAE 835726, maximum takeoff power 420 SHP). The maximum takeoff weight was 3,000 lb (1,361 kg). At the time of the accident, the aircraft had 3,116 flight hours and the engine 3,098 hours. It could carry four people.
The main rotor had five blades with a diameter of 8.1 m, turning counterclockwise as seen from above. Normal in-flight rotor RPM range was 487 to 492. The tail rotor had a diameter of 1.4 m with two sets of two blades. The helicopter was certified for single-pilot operations; the pilot flew from the left seat, and controls were also present in the right front seat.
The aircraft was not equipped with flight data or voice recorders, as they were not required for this type.
Maintenance
The helicopter was originally French-registered (F-GTLF) and was registered in the United Kingdom on 21 April 2011 after purchase. Maintenance was transferred from France to the UK. The last maintenance in France was the annual/100-hour inspection on 1 April 2011 (aircraft had 6,062 cycles, 3,046:15 flight hours, 3,028:35 engine hours).
In the UK, between 6 April and 24 May 2011, a weight and balance measurement and special overhaul (coinciding with 50-hour or 6-month inspection) were performed. The Certificate for Release to Service on 24 May 2011 required a further inspection per FAA AD 2005-21-02 within 40 flight hours or 200 torque events. That inspection was done on 12 July 2011 (aircraft at 3,084.4 flight hours). The next 50-hour inspection was mistakenly scheduled at 3,146:15 flight hours instead of 3,100:55.
Weight and Balance
Using the last certified weight and balance from 24 May 2011 (basic empty weight 1,606.60 lb at 109.21 in, moment 175,456.786 lb·in), and assuming full fuel at takeoff (main tank 435 lb, auxiliary 136.5 lb) and 100 lb fuel consumed after 30 minutes, the helicopter remained within the center of gravity envelope as defined in the MD 369E Rotorcraft Flight Manual.
Meteorological Information
Data from three weather stations 10 to 23 km from the accident site, and from Palma de Mallorca Airport (28 km away), indicated winds from the east at 3 to 6 kt, gusting to 13 kt. Temperature was 20–21 °C, relative humidity around 75%, few or no clouds, visibility excellent. At 11:00 local time, wind at Palma was from 50° at 7 kt, QNH 1,025 hPa. Eyewitnesses reported light wind with some gusts and optimal visibility.