What happened
On 22 January 2014, an Airbus EC-130B4, registration A6-DYR, was performing a routine positioning flight from the Atlantis Palm hotel heliport to the Dubai Air Wing fixed operating base. The aircraft, operated by Helidubability, had previously completed six passenger sightseeing tours earlier that day.
During the departure phase, the pilot attempted to transition into a climb while simultaneously applying continuous left pedal input to initiate a turn. This maneuver caused the aircraft to rotate counter-clockwise at an accelerating rate. At an altitude of approximately 22 meters, the rotation speed reached roughly 180 degrees per second. As the aircraft entered this high-speed rotation, it pitched forward and began a rapid descent, ultimately impacting the heliport vertically with a high rate of descent.
The investigation
The UAE Air Accident Investigation Sector (AAIS) conducted an inquiry into the event, involving technical advisers from Airbus Helicopters and Turbomeca. The investigation focused on the flight dynamics during the takeoff, the physical forces acting on the crew, and the aircraft's stability during the high-rate yaw maneuver. Investigators analyzed the aircraft's impact attitude, the functionality of the engine and rotor systems, and the effectiveness of the crew's restraint systems during the sudden onset of rotational inertia.