What happened
On December 7, 2020, an Airbus Helicopters MBB BK117 D-2, registration EC-MOR, was conducting a HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) mission from Lozoyuela to Corpa, Madrid. The crew consisted of the pilot, a technical crew member, and a medical team including a doctor, a nurse, and an emergency technician.
While flying over the La Cabrera mountain range, the aircraft encountered turbulence. During this period, the pilot turned his head backward to check on a member of the medical team who was participating in their first HEMS operation. This movement, combined with the turbulence, caused the pilot to suffer a severe cervical whip-lash injury, resulting in intense pain in the neck and back vertebrae.
Despite the pain, the pilot did not immediately notify the crew, intending to focus on the flight parameters. When the medical mission was canceled by the coordination center and a return to base was requested, the pilot informed the passengers that they would land immediately due to his medical condition. The pilot performed a rapid descent and a controlled emergency landing in a field near Corpa. The pilot experienced symptoms of presyncope upon landing and required medical attention from the onboard team before being transported to a hospital.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's actions, the meteorological conditions, and the aircraft's flight path using tracking beacon data. Although the flight recorders were overwritten and the data lost, tracking data confirmed the aircraft's trajectory and the sudden decrease in speed and altitude during the final moments of the flight.
Meteorological analysis showed that while visibility was good, the area was subject to mountain waves and turbulence. Wind gusts of up to 33 knots had been recorded in the vicinity, and the environment was considered favorable for the presence of turbulence. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's medical history and the operator's emergency procedures, noting that the pilot's seatbelt configuration allowed enough movement for the head rotation that led to the injury.