What happened
On April 20, 2004, a Schweizer Hughes 269C helicopter, registration I-TORK, was performing aerial spraying operations near Cascina Martinetta. While executing a left-hand turn in the vicinity of an electrical power line, the pilot lost control of the aircraft and began a rapid descent. Despite attempts to arrest the descent by adjusting power and collective pitch, the helicopter struck a rice field. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained significant damage to the landing skid, the main rotor, and the overall airframe.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation examined the flight conditions, the aircraft's mechanical state, and the pilot's actions. Meteorological reports at the time indicated CAVOK conditions with no wind. While the pilot suggested a sudden tailwind gust may have contributed to the event, investigators found no evidence to support this claim, noting the stable weather conditions. The investigation also reviewed the maintenance history of the aircraft, which had undergone a full inspection less than a month prior to the accident, and found no technical defects that would have compromised airworthiness.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the loss of control by the pilot during the maneuver.
- It is highly probable that the pilot executed an excessively tight turn to avoid an electrical power line, leaving insufficient altitude to recover the aircraft's attitude before impacting the ground.