What happened
On the evening of November 22, 2018, an Eurocopter EC120B, registration N124ML, crashed in a heavily forested area near Batey Higueral, La Romana, Dominican Republic. The aircraft, operated by IMFESA Air Service, was performing a private flight from Hotel Amanera toward La Romana International Airport (MDLR).
The pilot had completed several legs earlier in the day, including a refueling stop at Arroyo Barril Airport. After picking up four passengers at Hotel Amanera, the aircraft departed at 17:48. At approximately 18:37, the pilot reported being 5 nautical miles from the station and visible to the tower. Moments later, air traffic control lost visual contact with the aircraft. The helicopter struck the terrain with high energy, resulting in five fatalities and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The CIAA investigation focused on the engine's performance, fuel management, and environmental conditions. Investigators examined the engine management display (VEMD) and fuel sensors, finding that the fuel quantity indicators were functioning correctly. The investigation also analyzed the aircraft's power settings, noting that approximately 15 minutes prior to the accident, the aircraft was operating at the maximum takeoff torque limit. This specific power setting increases fuel consumption beyond the manufacturer's standard continuous operating specifications, thereby reducing the available flight time for a given fuel load.
Additionally, the investigation noted that the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) failed to activate, which hindered the initial search efforts. The investigation also found that the impact caused the main rotor blades to strike the tail boom, likely due to an abrupt cyclic control input during the emergency procedure.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was improper fuel management, which resulted in the engine running out of usable fuel.
- Operating at maximum takeoff torque significantly increased fuel consumption, accelerating the onset of fuel exhaustion.
- Marginal lighting conditions, as the accident occurred 38 minutes after sunset, contributed to the pilot's difficulty in maintaining terrain references during the emergency.
- The rugged, heavily vegetated terrain and difficult access to the crash site further complicated the event.