Robinson R22 F-OLJB Accident in Marla, Réunion

Accident Overview On 7 February 2014 at approximately 18:00 local time, a privately operated Robinson R22 helicopter, registration F-OLJB, was involved in an accident at Marla (974), at an altitude of 5,300 ft. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and one passenger. The helicopter sustained heavy damage. ## Flight Sequence The pilot landed on the helipad at the Marla hamlet. After a passenger boarded, the pilot initiated a takeoff facing the slope on a heading of 045°. Engine parameters were near maximum limits. During the oblique takeoff, as the helicopter passed over a hedge at a height of 1.60 m, the pilot felt a decrease in main rotor speed and heard the “LOW RPM” alarm. The pilot then turned right to make an emergency landing on a football field located about ten meters to the south and below. The helicopter struck the ground hard, bounced, and came to rest a few meters further. ## Meteorological and Performance Conditions Estimated weather at the accident site included light to calm winds from the north, visibility greater than 10 km, a temperature of 27 °C (ISA + 22), and a QNH of 1004 hPa. Under these conditions, the topographic altitude of the Marla helipad (5,300 ft) corresponded to a pressure altitude of approximately 5,500 ft and a density altitude of 8,200 ft. The pilot held a CPL(H) license from 2011 and had 860 flight hours at the time of the accident, including 400 hours on the R22, all on type since October 2013, and 20 hours in the preceding 30 days. Examination of the helicopter did not reveal a technical failure that could explain the accident. ## Contributing Factors Minutes earlier, the pilot had made a first takeoff toward the south, during which the helicopter sank as it left ground effect, triggering the LOW RPM alarm. The pilot recovered by reducing collective pitch and accelerating. On the second takeoff, the pilot chose an oblique takeoff toward the northeast. The rapid loss of ground effect caused the helicopter to sink, and insufficient available power prevented recovery. The terrain on that axis did not allow the pilot to descend and accelerate through the transition regime. The helicopter’s mass was approximately 10 to 20 kg higher than during the first takeoff. The report notes that the pilot may not have been aware of being at the performance limit despite the high altitude and temperature 22 °C above standard. ## Safety Lessons The report concludes that helicopter performance was underestimated during a high-altitude, high-temperature takeoff outside ground effect. Misinterpretation of the sinking observed during the previous takeoff may have contributed to the accident, and familiarity with R22 operations in the region may have reduced vigilance.