What happened
On August 14, 2015, a Rotorway A600 Talon, registration unspecified, was performing a cross-country flight from Zomergem to Kortrijk. After landing near a motorcycle shop in an urban area, the pilot attempted to take off from a paved area adjacent to a grassy patch.
As the aircraft climbed over a street, the pilot encountered an unexpected obstacle: a 4-meter-high electrical line crossing the path. The passenger alerted the pilot to the wire. In an attempt to avoid the line, the pilot applied full collective and cyclic input, causing the helicopter to jump upward. This maneuver caused the aft rotor to strike the electrical cable, triggering a low rotor RPM warning. Despite efforts to control the descent, the helicopter struck the pavement heavily from a height of approximately 4 meters, resulting in bent skids and structural damage to the skid supports.
The investigation
AAIU(Be) examined the takeoff site, which was located within a populated urban zone. The investigation noted that the takeoff area was constrained by a freight container, a hangar, and vegetation, and was subject to various regulatory requirements regarding obstacle-free zones that were not met.
Investigators also reviewed the pilot's flight logs and training history. While the pilot held a commercial license, their experience was spread across three different helicopter types, with relatively low flight time specifically on the Rotorway A600 Talon. The investigation also assessed the pilot's flight preparation and the aircraft's performance characteristics relative to the height-velocity (H-V) diagram.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was inadequate flight preparation, which led to the failure to identify the electrical line crossing the flight path.
- The pilot operated the aircraft within the height-velocity diagram (the "dead man's curve") over a populated area.
- The pilot's experience was fragmented across multiple aircraft types, and they lacked sufficient takeoff and landing experience on this specific model.
- The investigation identified elements of overconfidence in the pilot's ability to manage the flight parameters.