What happened
On 15 May 2025, an Airbus EC120B was being operated from Porepunkah aerodrome in Victoria for a scheduled private flight to Albury. The aircraft was carrying the pilot and one passenger. As the helicopter attempted to lift into a hover, it began to yaw to the left. The pilot attempted to counteract this movement using the right pedal, but these efforts failed to stop the rotation. The aircraft subsequently entered an uncontrolled spin, causing the right skid to strike the ground and resulting in a dynamic rollover. Both occupants managed to evacuate the aircraft without serious injury.
The investigation
The investigation focused on why the pilot was unable to maintain directional control during the initial phase of flight. While the pilot had performed a pre-flight pedal check and recognized that significant input would be necessary, their expectations regarding the aircraft's response were inaccurate. The investigation found that the pilot's recent experience was primarily with a Robinson R44, an aircraft with different anti-torque pedal requirements.
During the incident, the pilot attempted to gain altitude by increasing the collective. This increase in engine power raised the main rotor blade angle, which in turn amplified the reaction torque. This surge in power intensified the leftward yaw and simultaneously reduced the effectiveness of the tail rotor's ability to counteract the torque. The investigation concluded that the amount of pedal movement required to arrest the yaw exceeded the pilot's physical input.
Findings
- The pilot had not operated the Airbus EC120B for approximately 15 years, leading to a significant lack of recency on this specific type.
- Skill decay related to the complex handling characteristics of the Fenestron design contributed to the pilot's inability to manage the controls.
- The pilot's previous experience on different aircraft types led to an underestimation of the pedal input required for the Airbus EC120B.
- The pilot's perception of their own competence was likely inflated by extensive general rotary-wing experience, masking the degradation of type-specific skills.