What happened
On 14 November 2004, an Agusta Bell AB-412 helicopter, registration EC-GBE, was conducting a local VFR flight near Seville, Spain. The aircraft departed from La Cartuja Heliport carrying the pilot and four passengers for a short-duration flight. After an initial climb and turn, the helicopter proceeded to follow the left bank of the Guadalquver River toward the Tablada Airport area.
While flying at an altitude of approximately 100 ft above the water, directly over the Puente de Hierro (iron bridge), the helicopter's nose attitude shifted downward. The aircraft entered a prolonged descent without significant changes in airspeed or heading. The helicopter ultimately impacted the surface of the river, causing the forward cabin and engine bay to be destroyed. While four occupants managed to surface and were rescued, one fatality occurred as one passenger remained underwater and had to be retrieved by divers.
The investigation
The CIAIAC examined the flight trajectory, wreckage, and maintenance records. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was airworthy and had undergone recent scheduled maintenance, including rotor balancing and component replacements, with a successful test flight performed the previous day.
Investigators analyzed the final flight phase using manufacturer simulations and eyewitness accounts. The data indicated that the descent was initiated and maintained through the exclusive use of the cyclic control, without the use of the collective control. The simulation showed a pitch angle ranging from -5° to -10° during the descent. The investigation also considered the possibility of spatial disorientation, noting that the pilot's ability to perceive altitude may have been compromised by the high airspeed, low-level terrain, and the presence of other recreational aircraft, such as paragliders, in the vicinity.